How-To: Being Healthy in the Dorm Room {College Edition}

What grade are you in?

-Sophomore (almost a Junior)

How long have you lived in the dorms?

– I’m at the end of my second year.

What is your biggest challenge living in a dorm room?

– The biggest challenge for me has been getting enough sleep. I tend to be an early to bed early morning type of person by nature and it’s much harder in a dorm with tons of loud people.

What appliances do you have?

– I have a rice maker, a fridge, a Keurig single-cup coffee maker, a blender and a microwave.

Do your room mates influence what you eat?

– Not really, my roommates and I are not very close.

How do you avoid late night studying munchies?

– I dont, if I get hungry late at night I eat. Even if I’m not hungry, if something is distracting me from studying enough that it’s all I think about, I usually try to take care of it. That means if it’s 12pm and all I can think about is a giant piece of cake I try to find something sweet to satisfy that.

How do you find time to exercise in college?

– Either wake up early or do it between classes. It’s only an hour of my time, so it’s not that hard.

What are some good food ideas to keep in the fridge?

-Tons and tons of fruit! Veggies, smoothies, hummus and water.
Give us an example of a usual day of eats for you.

– I wake up, eat breakfast (parfait, eggs, oatmeal), then I go to class usually bringing an apple and some nuts for when I get hungry. For lunch, I usually have a salad with fruit and some type of protein. I usually don’t eat again until an early dinner with some type of protein (usually fish) and tons of veggies. If I’m hungry later in the night, I’ll eat dessert, or have a snack.

How do you save money and eat healthy at the same time?

– Get very creative in your cafeteria!

How do you make healthy choices at the cafeteria?

– Usually, I make a salad with some type of fish on top. Often, you can pick and choose what you have in your dinner, so it makes it easier to personalize it.

Do you buy Organic fruits and veggies?

– I try, but it’s not always easy.

How do you manage to get enough sleep?

– Honestly just listening to my body. I’m not usually one to get 8 hours of sleep in a row, so when I’m tired later in the day I nap. I realize it’s not normal for our bodies to be tired in the middle of the day, so when it is you should listen and take an hour or so.

What is your number one tip for other students living in Dorm Rooms trying to stay healthy?

– Listen to yourself. It’s really easy to get caught up in habits that others introduce you to when you’re not used to them, or they don’t work for you. Listen to your body and don’t feel self conscious about it. In the end it will be what’s best for you.

Additional Comments:

– College is a very difficult and stressful time. You’re figuring out who you are. It is one of the most important times in your life to take care of yourself. College (or your 20’s) is a time when you figure out what is important to you. It’s the first time that you really make decisions for yourself, and if you don’t make decisions that will benefit you and your body, it’s going to be a long road ahead. Take care of yourself!