Maintain a Healthy Eating Lifestyle

It’s been 9 weeks since we started the HealthyU blog. Its been an amazing 9 weeks of sharing what healthy eating means to us as university students. We hope you have been enlightened that healthy eating is doable and is within your reach.

Below are a few things to keep doing to sustain a healthy eating lifestyle:

• Eat a balanced meal containing fruits, vegetables, grain products, dairy products is an important step towards a happy and healthy lifestyle (WHO, 2015).

• Stability- Making a healthy food choice as a university student includes budgeting and planning ahead. It’s important to plan ahead and make meals than grab something at the campus cafeteria. Planning ahead saves you money and you’re less likely to spend outside. 

Set yourself up for success! Start your day off right by making breakfast or packing breakfast, healthy snacks/nuts before leaving home for the day. Be your food environment! http://bit.ly/1EOHaNy

• Cook- Take risks, don’t be afraid, be confident and cook. It might seem difficult and time consuming but we all have willpower and are able to do anything with determination. No need to dine out trying different restaurants and types of cuisines. Make some investment in portable appliances like a smoothie blender, rice cooker, electric kettle, etc. Step into kitchen and take the lead. If you don’t know what to cook, follow some food blogs because there are recipes on there. Know what goes into your body and fuel it the right way.

• Stay motivated- Healthy eating is not a one-time thing but a lifestyle. You need to pace yourself in the process. Have a food journal to write down what you ate so you become aware of which foods you like and don’t like because your body would need to adapt to changes in food choices. Know your support system to involve them in your plans of healthy eating because some friends might not support your new lifestyle change.

• Enjoy Life- It’s ok to have a cheat meal once in a while but don’t feel guilty afterwards. Find a balance and understand what healthy eating means to you.

Take care of your body, nourish it by maintaining a healthy food lifestyle wherever life takes you. Remember, healthy eating is within your reach!

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at mphteamone@gmail.com

References

http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/nutrition/a-healthy-lifestyle/benefits-of-a-balanced-diet

EatRight Ontario. (2015) Healthy Eating on a Budget. Retrieved from:

http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Budget.aspx

Health Canada. (2013) Measuring the Food Environment in Canada. Retrieved from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/pol/som-ex-sum-environ-eng.php