It’s 2 p.m. You are sitting in class trying to focus on what the professor is saying, but your head is pounding. A classmate whispers to the student next to them that the omelets the cafeteria made this morning were surprisingly delicious.
You wouldn’t know. You slept until 11:30 a.m. and rushed to your first class, missing breakfast, and skipping lunch. The energy drink you grabbed from your mini fridge is clearly not cutting it.
Food in college is uncharted territory for many new students and an adjustment for returning students. We don’t have a lot of money to eat out every meal and we definitely don’t have our parents cooking for us anymore!
It’s so easy to skip a meal while cramming for a quiz or to miss the hours that the cafe is serving so we need to utilize all the resources available to us so that our bodies are nourished, fueling us to learn well.
As students, we need to prioritize eating healthy and consistent eating so that our brains can retain all the valuable information that we are paying so much money to learn.
I am a certified nutrition coach and a senior this year, so I have some advice for ya!
Proteins are the building blocks for not only your muscles but your hormones. Think of hormones as the way your brain sends messages to different parts and systems of your body telling them how to perform their functions well. So, if you’re not eating enough protein, your body will not be able to function the way God designed it to!
Some common sources of proteins are beans, eggs, Greek yogurt, milk, quinoa, tofu, meats, and veggie meats.
Carbohydrates are important because they are the “gas” that our body runs on. Carbs are converted into glucose and absorbed by the bloodstream. They fuel literally every function in your body at the most basic and necessary level.
Some common sources of carbs are fruits, vegetables, grains, and pasta.
Fats are the macronutrients that support your brain! Your brain is 70% fat, which means your body needs healthy fats so that your brain can retain and recall information. Fats also help your body absorb nutrients and provide longer-lasting energy to sustain your body so that it doesn’t start breaking down muscles to get energy from.
Common sources of healthy fats are nuts, seeds, oils, and avocados.
2. Take advantage of your meal plan if you have one! The cafeteria is located on the top floor of Kellogg Hall. Hours as follows:
Monday–Friday
Breakfast: 7–9 a.m.
Continental Breakfast: 9–10 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Dinner: 5 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday
Brunch: 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Dinner: 5–6:30 p.m.
3. Okay, maybe you don’t have a meal plan and you’re on a budget. To you I say, have you heard of Eden’s Pantry?
Eden’s Pantry is a food pantry available to all students completely free of charge. Local businesses and community members generously donate food items of all kinds to keep us fed. Go to this link to book an appointment and follow their Instagram @edenspantry.wwu for updates!
4. The Express and the SAC are also places where students can charge their student accounts for food. The Express has smoothies and hot food items while the SAC offers snacks and hot food items while the cafe might be closed.
The Express is located inside the Shell gas station and the SAC is on the first floor of Kellogg Hall.
At the heart of it, taking care of our bodies is not only essential for a healthy life but it is glorifying God:
“For God bought you with a high price, so you must honor Him with your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:20 [3]
References
Eat Gather Go. (2023). Nutrition Basics. Eat Gather Go. https://www.eatgathergo.org/eat/planning/nutrition-basics/
Mayo Clinic. (2022, March 22). Carbohydrates: How carbs fit into a healthy diet. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/carbohydrates/art-20045705
New Living Translation. (1996). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206%3A20&version=NLT
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