When you’re caught up in the everyday life of being a college student it may be difficult to keep in mind what goes into your body. A part of achieving academic success is how you fuel your brain and body.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasizes that no matter your age, race, ethnicity, fitness, or health status, we can all benefit from making better choices to help support healthy dietary patterns. These choices may include limiting the amount of added sugars, saturated fats, sodium, and alcoholic beverages. Instead of a chocolate bar add more fruits you may enjoy as a snack or dessert. All the small changes you can make adds up to a greater result in bettering your health.
For the most part, negative moods or emotions can influence a greater intake of food consumption most times being unhealthy rather than healthy options, (Cardi et al., 2015, pp. 299-309). There are many emotions that we experience as college students. Pay attention to how you may feel after an exam or leading up to one. It may be worth noting how your eating habits change or are influenced in states of negative emotions.
A great way to start your day is with a good meal. Having breakfast before a big day is a way you can set yourself up for academic success. In Health and Academic Achievement, skipping breakfast is associated with decreased cognitive performance. This may affect attention span, memorization, problem solving, and many other skills needed to pass those classes.
Here are some tips to get you started:
Plan out meals for the week and schedule time to prep.
Keep filling snacks on hand when short on time. For example, bring bananas, nuts, protein bars, tuna packages to go for a quick bite.
When going out with friends, look for options on the menu that represents a well balanced meal with vegetables, protein, and healthy fats.
Eating for academic success or for everyday health is a journey. There are many things to learn about nutrition but find what's right for you and talk to a professional for individual needs. Eating is part of our everyday life and we should take action and control in what we fuel our bodies.
Resources
Cardi, V., Leppanen, J., & Treasure, J. (2015). The effects of negative and positive
mood induction on eating behaviour: A meta-analysis of laboratory studies in
the healthy population and eating and weight disorders. 57, 299–309. Retrieved from
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, May). Health and Academic
Achievement. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/health_and_academics/pdf/health-
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. (December 2020). Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Retrieved from