ROBIN NASBY
Living Assistant
There is a silent epidemic sweeping college students across the nation. It lingers throughout university cafeterias and has a reputation for preying on unknowing first year students.
Most college freshmen fear the “freshmen 15” and hear horror stories about rapid weight gain accumulated by Thanksgiving of fall semester.
This problem does not disappear after the conclusion of one’s freshmen year and many find it difficult to stay healthy for their remaining college years.
The cause of the weight gain is the dramatic change in lifestyle that comes with college living: lack of sleep, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, skipping meals and over-eating.
Take a minute to review your day and find healthy options in almost every situation that arises.
Breakfast is the most over-looked meal of the day, especially for busy students struggling to make it to class on time.
Instead of grabbing a muffin and soda from the HAWC and running to your 8 a.m. class, try an apple and peanut butter coupled with a fat-free latte.
The peanut butter serves as a good source of protein, while the caffeine will help keep your eyes open during the incessant struggle of an early morning lecture.
With one extensive salad bar and nutritional information posted at each meal station, students with meal points have many opportunities to eat a well-balanced meal.
Check the daily cafe menu posted on the Pepperdine dining services website to plan your visit before entering the cafe.
There is also hope for upperclassmen living off campus or in student apartments with kitchens.
McDonalds and Jack in the Box are the only fast food chains in Malibu, eliminating the temptation of a cheap, quick and less-than-healthy meal for the newly independent.
From organic restaurants and vitamin shops to frozen yogurt and sushi bars, Malibu dining is far from the typical American fast-food saturated city.
Depending on your cooking abilities, or lack there of, there are many calorie conscious meals that are quick and easy to make on a small budget.
A hearty chicken salad will leave you guilt free. It does not take much skill to toss together a delicious blend of light balsamic dressing, shredded cheese, croutons, bagged lettuce and microwaveable chicken.
However, if you have meal preparation anxiety, or are just lazy, investing in ever-satisfying low-fat frozen dinners is a good alternative.
At the end of the day, remember to schedule in time to sleep. This may sound ridiculous, but it is easy to get carried away with social and academic commitments and sacrifice sleep to get everything done.
The “freshmen 15” is preventable and by knowing the causes and simple adjustments that students can make to fight the disease, they are one step closer to eliminating its existence.
09-06-2007