By Kimberly King
Staff Writer
Sure, we’re in college, and college students tend to take shortcuts to save money and time. But taking a shortcut with our nutrition is not a good move.
In order to stay healthy and active, we must have good nutrition. Staying physically active and eating healthily has benefits that will last a lifetime. Numerous studies have shown that leading a healthy lifestyle will help you have a long and active life.
Now that we know that nutrition is vital to a great life, what exactly should we do?
First, you should follow a well-balanced diet. Marianne Robertson, one of Pepperdine University’s resident dietitians, suggests following the plate-model diet. If you look at your plate, more than half of it should be covered with a grain or other carbohydrate source. Of the remaining 40 to 50 percent, you should have more than half of that covered with a vegetable. The remaining 20 to 30 percent can be your protein — meat, fish or a vegetarian version of those. If you’re like me, you also have to leave room for dessert. Fruits, sorbets, sherbets and even the richer desserts like cake and pastries are great, just don’t let them constitute your entire meal. Snacking is also a great way to sneak in just a little more nutrition. A cup of yogurt, or a banana and peanut butter, or even some crackers and cheese make great fast-energy snacks.
| A Quick Look
The plate-model diet: • More than half of your plate should be covered with a grain or carbohydrate source. • Of the remaining 40-50 percent, more than half should be veggies. • The last 20-30 percent should be protein |
Don’t forget to get your 30 minutes of physical activity in.
We go to a great school that has many fitness options. There are aerobic and martial arts classes available through the intramurals office, and there are great trails that you can run on.
If that doesn’t inspire you, how about this fine fact: physical activity helps you maintain or lose weight, and it helps balance your body fat distribution. Your heart’s capacity to pump blood is also improved through physical activity.
Finally, physical activity helps you deal with stress, and we all know that with finals coming up, our lives are getting more stressful.
Summer is coming up and this is a great time to take advantage of eating great produce fresh from the garden or the market. Fresh vegetables and fruits offer all the vitamins you need, so eat up. As you finish up this year, take time to eat healthily and enjoy the things around you. Don’t forget, the E in eating is for enjoyment.
— Kimberly King is the public relations officer for the Student Dietic Association. E-mail her at kimberly.r.king@pepperdine.edu.
April 03, 2003