Eating Healthy as a College Student- Mission Impossible?

At the University of Miami, students have several options as to where to go for meals or grab a quick snack. The dining halls offer a variety of food (including vegetarian options), there's a food court with everyone's favorite vendors (Wendy's, JambaJuice, even a quick sushi place), and a Sbarro's not far from that (which will soon be replaced by the Rat during the construction of the new student center).

Although there are healthy-eating options abound, that doesn't mean its the most convenient. When I first got here I swore I was going to eat healthy- how could one not want to with all of the fresh fruit and vegetables constantly available? I was happy to get away from the not-so-healthy diet I had at home.

I quickly realized, however, that healthy eating takes longer. Have you ever eaten a salad while walking to class or to work? I doubt it. But I can safely assume you've had something along the lines of a pretzel, hot dog, soda, or some other fast food concotion while in a hurry. And as a college student, thats how you spend most of your time- in a hurry.

While this behavior is completely understandable (and part of the college experience in my opinion), it can affect your health negatively (and quicker than you might think). So to avoid the freshman 15, I thought I'd post some tips...

Grocery Shopping
Although freshman are required to buy at least the 14 meals per week plan, that still leaves some options for going grocery shopping. Most of these items you won't be finding in the dining hall, so take note.

Do's

dried apricots: Admitedly, not the most delicious fruit you could ever eat. Still, they help you wake up with natural sugars and iron that get your blood rushing to your brain and muscles.

plain lowfat yogurt: Packed with B vitamins, plain lowfat yogurt helps generate the carbs you ate for breakfast, giving you more energy. And remeber- plain LOWFAT yogurt. None of that chocolate-mocha whipped stuff.

dark chocolate: Not only is this (in moderation) supposed to be heart healthy, but it also boosts your mood (aside from the obvious fact that you're eating chocolate).

blueberries: As a college student, you'll be doing a lot of studying. Studies show that blueberries increase memory perfomance by 26% when eaten regularly, so make sure to pick up some whenever possible.

Do Not's

granola bars: I'm definitly not one to talk on this- either I'm running late to class or work, and I need something to eat so I don't have to fear passing out, so I grab one of these on my way out. Some bars are full of high fructose corn syrup and trans fats that can be harmful to your energy and appetite later on in the day, so make sure to check and double check the nutrients label before purchasing. Same goes for those snack bars made with 'real fruit' - it often just signifies sugar from fruit and water inbetween breading with hydrogenated fats.


What to Choose at the Dining Hall?
The obvious choices for healthy eating get old much quicker than one would like.

Do's...

eggs: Incredible? Yes. Edible? Even better. When not fried to death, eggs can provide protein and lower the risk of coronary heart disease. Just don't forget to ask the staff to use the spray, not the oil. Add some onions and green peppers in there for good measure, but skip on the loads of cheese.

coffee: ....Yes? Although you should definitly take this in moderation, new studies are showing that the occassional coffee reduces the risk of diabetes, heart attacks, cirrhosis, and a bunch of other things you don't want to deal with later on in life as you reap the rewards of having attended such an awesome school. Just make sure to add some milk so as to balance out the affect of coffee leading to thinner bones. And no- this does not include that double latte skinny mocha whatever-drink you get at the Starbucks.

rice: This is available almost on a daily basis, and when not cooked in oil, it is not only healthy, but boosts your mood through increasing the production of serotonin.

Do Not's...

pizza: Not all pizzas are made equally. Although tomato sauce is rich in lycopene, skip the dining hall pizza and just get a salad with some ruby reds.

oatmeal: Healthy? Perhaps. But studies show that eating oatmeal for breakfast can cause your appetite and calorie cosumption for the day spike by more than 80%, so watch out.

soda: No. Thin bones, stained teeth, increased risk of diabetes.


The C-Store
There is an on campus convenience store open late into the night, and it can be quite tempting to stop by after a long class or a movie at the Cosford to pick up a snack....or two....maybe three...

Do's

dried fruit: I'm personally a big fan, so it's a bit biased, but when you need something sweet, these are great alternatives to a candy bar.

Do Not's

vitamin waters and the like: Yes, they taste good- but that's where the fun ends. Most are packed with ridiculous amounts of calories (what's the point of drinking one at the gym if it's really just undoing all those laps you just ran?) and tiny-eensy-weensy amounts of vitamins that you could just as easily get in pill form. Drink some regular water.



I'll update more later with the fast-food verdicts.

On a Normal Thursday...

...this is what my day will most likely consist of:

7:30 Alarm goes off- I hit the snooze button and go back to sleep.
7:45 My second alarm goes off- I know myself all too well.
8:00 My third alarm goes off- because yes, I did hit the snooze button on the second alarm. I finally get the energy to climb out of my loft.
8:10 I get dressed and ready for work.
8:30 - 9:00 I head down to the Hecht-Stanford Dining Hall to grab some breakfast- if I'm lucky, the omlet line isn't too long.

9:00 - 1:00

I'm at work! Here is where I update this blog, compile banners for the main website, make facebook bumper stickers (because there can never be too many UM bumper stickers...), update Youtube videos, and think of any way possible in which I can help you guys.

1:00 - 1:45 After leaving work for the day I head back to the dorms. I usually take a cat nap and then head back over to the dining hall for a quick lunch.

2:00 - 3:15 I go to the Dooly Memorial building for MTH 109- intro to calc. Not my best subject by far, but Professor Francois is nice, so class is enjoyable.

3:25 - 6:05 Right after calc, I take the HurryCane shuttle to the Rainbow building (a gray, square building on the opposite side of campus.... not what I had in mind when I first heard it's name either.) Here I have my 2D design class with Slavkovic- it's a challenging class, but I absolutely love it. Her 3 year old son often comes in towards the end of class, and it's nice to watch him scribble on the whiteboard and talk with him after completing a difficult assignment.

6:05 - 6:45 I walk from the Rainbow building back to the Hecht-Stanford Dining Hall for dinner with some of the girls from my floor. I usually don't have time to go to the gym, so this walk is a nice bit of light exercise.

7:00 - 1:00 This is my free time- I do homework, hang out with my friends, watch movies, hang out in the lobby, etc. There's never a dull moment, especially in Hecht. Tonight I'll be heading over to the Rat to watch the UM vs. GT game.

1:00 am I really do try to get to bed sooner than this, but it usually never happens. This may explain the snooze button problem...


Have a good Thursday, and cheer on the Canes during the UM vs GT game tonight!

This Could Be You!

To give you a better idea as to what living in Hecht offers students, I've posted one of the weekly emails sent to those who live in the two Hecht towers (McDonald and- the best- Pentland)

HECHT HAPPENINGS

A weekly e-mail update for Hecht Residents about what is happening in Hecht!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 17TH

HECHT COFFEE HOUSE

One of Hecht’s most popular programs!

8pm in Vince’s Apt.

Free coffee & snacks, casual entertainment provided by YOU!

Singing, Dancing, Poetry Reading, Piano, Comedy

Sign your act up at the front desk today!

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18TH

ARSHT ETHICS DEBATE INFORMATION SESSION

7pm in the Hecht Classroom

Want to compete for Hecht in the Arsht Ethics Debate 2009?

Stop by this information session and find out more!

(The Ethics Debate is part of Sportsfest 2009)*

*One of the most anticipated events each year is Sportsfest, which is an event hosted by the Wellness Center in order to promote community among residents. Generally, teams are chosen by floor in each building. Some teams have notorious reputations in Sportsfest activities (you may want to note that Hecht kicks Stanford's butt in ALL activities). Activities to participate in are: flag football, soccer, vollyball, mystery event, water polo and tennis, just to name a few.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 22ND

HCC* TRIP TO SEE THE MIAMI HEAT vs. THE INDIANA PACERS

ONLY $5!

Sign up today at the Hecht Front Desk

(only spots on the waiting list remaining)

If you have signed up but have not paid your deposit you will be moved to the waiting list and your spot will be given to someone willing to pay.

Meet in the Hecht Lobby at 6pm on the 22nd. Transportation to and from the game provided.

*HCC (Hecht College Council) is comprised of elected students (President, Vice-President, Secretary, etc.) and floor representatives (chosen by their respective floor). It meets weekly to decide upon events for Hecht students, decorations for the lobby, and to voice the questions of their peers.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23RD

Want to get involved in serving the Miami community this Thanksgiving season?

Join us from 2:30-6pm for a day of service working with the children from Community Partnerships for the Homeless.

Hecht will be heading out to give back to our neighborhood by spending some quality time with a great group of kids that need U!

Sign up at the front desk NOW to join us on Sunday Nov. 23rd.

Transportation to and from the event will be provided.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 27TH

STAYING IN TOWN FOR THANKSGIVING?

JOIN HECHT FOR A CASUAL THANKSGIVING MEAL OR JUST GRAB SOME FOOD AND TAKE IT WITH YOU!

1:30PM IN VINCE’S APT.

Message from the ACAR: If you have any questions or concerns about your academic path, please send me an email at hechtadvising@miami.edu or stop by the ACAR office today!

Sarah Barker, Academic and Career Advisor in Residence

Message from the AFs*: Feel free to find us whenever you have questions or concerns about your classes. Have a great week!

Brittny, Dan, Jeremy, Mike, Michelle, Reem, Stephanie, and Tim

*AF's (or Academic Fellows) are sophomores who live on some of the freshmen floors. They are there to help you with any questions you may have concerning your classes, schedule, and the stresses that go along with being a college student. They often work with RA's or other AF's to put on special programs.

FOR MORE RESOURCES, INFORMATION & UPDATES ABOUT

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN HECHT,

VISIT THE HECHT WEBSITE AT …

hecht.miami.edu

College Complications

No matter where you go to further your education (we just all hope it's here at the U), you'll most likely wind up dealing with one or more of these three things:


Long Football Games (and so much more)

There's never anything wrong with a long football game- especially when we're victorious (read about our awesomeness), but you MUST be self-disciplined and prioritze!

You may believe yourself to be self-disciplined already- and that's great. As a senior (or junior) in high school, you're probably juggling AP classes, extracurricular activities, a job, volunteering, and not to mention friends and family. In college however, with such a different schedule (you rarely have classes one right after the other, and some can go as late as 9:30 at night), it may take a while to get into the swing of things.

There is also an over abundance of ways to spend your time. Although this is much better than having absolutely nothing to do, you have to realize that you can't do everything. Pick and choose your activities around what you can handle with your course and work load. Take into consideration study time (which is exponentially more than you've ever done in high school, believe me) and time to just breathe. Without some breaks here and there, not only will you be feeling the stress psychologically, but your health will also be experiencing the downside of an over-packed schedule.

All in all, I encourage you to get involved when you reach college- join a club or two, try out for a sport, and take the time to meet new people. Just make sure that you're not leaving that research paper and bio lab write-up until the very last minute.


Roommate Worries (and Lackthereof)

Here at the U, students have a chance to explore roommate options through a survey on the school website (available usually after the deadline for making the housing deposit). This ultimately leads to a lot of facebook searching, IMing, etc., but in the end the majority of students decide to leave it all up to fate. I personally chose to do so because college is the perfect chance to meet new people with a different perspective.

Although I met some people online who I'm now friends with here, my roommate experience has allowed me to see things in a new light (NICOLE IS AWESOME). One thing to keep in mind- in the end, you both chose to attend the same school, so chances are, you already have a lot in common. Of course it will be a bit awkward at first, but as long as you keep an open mind and open line of communication, everything will be fine.

In some cases, people do wind up switching roommates. In the end, it's not necessarily because they didn't like who they got paired up with- sometimes they feel more comfortable in another living situation (is there another, more quiet floor? is one floor closer to the drama department or the computer lab?). The most important thing is to keep an open line of communication- no one wants to hear that you're having troubles before it's too late to fix them.


Government Loans

I may be biased, but government loans are great (especially when compared to the private student loans of today...whew...)- that said, they are anything but worry free! Take responsibility for your finances- your parents won't be watching over you forever, and college is the perfect time to start dealing with things of this nature.

Like I mentioned previously, government loans are a great option if there is a bit of tuition or room & board fees that you and your parents can't cover. They have relatively low interest rates and you don't need a cosigner (although you do need to be deemed in-need of these loans by information that your school receives from your FASFA report). Student debt is plaguing our generation- if it is necessary to take out loans to further your education, make sure research all of your options.

Make sure that the financial institute of your choosing has disembersed your loans to the school- for whatever reason, things may not have gone through. Take care of it right away!
Especially in times like these, start researching student loan possibilities as soon as possible. If problems arise in the future, it could take months of smoothing out, and it's a stress that you definitly don't need as you're entering college life.

Have a great weekend!

UM vs VT

Remember to watch UM's last home game

of the year versus Virginia Tech tonight!

Affording a University of Miami Education...

Although the overall expenses cited on the University of Miami's website seems extremely high, there are tons of opportunities that make it possible to afford such a great education.
The University itself has an exstensive network of scholarships, grants, and other financial awards that are given to many students. Applying for admission here at the University automatically places you in consideration for these awards. While some are based on academic excellence, others (such as certain grants) are dispersed based upon information from your FAFSA.

For more info, visit miami.edu/affordable

There are also a plethora of resources outside of the University of Miami- check with your college counselor or career center director to get up-to-date information about scholarships awarded by your school, local companies and community groups. Some website search engines are also helpful.

Fastweb
Scholarships
Collegeboard

And remember-
If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam.

Be careful about what information you give out to which sources- if it seems sketchy, it's probably best to forget about that application and move on to another. Better safe than sorry.

"My Zimbio" - More on the University of Miami

Top Stories

A Word to the Wise...

To those of you who are going through the 'wait and see process' after having sent in your applications to your top-pick colleges, a word to the wise-
Try not to worry.
It's hard to do, true, but your senior year is one of your most stressful. You've gotten that first wave of college applications done, so take a breather- you deserve it. If you worry too much, you'll only suffer. Put your focus into your school work and your last year as a high school student- enjoy it while it lasts, because I promise that it'll all go by too quickly.


Also,
all-nighters at college are not the absolute pinnacle of fun as you may have once though- take it from someone who knows.

Student Testimonials...

Current students talk about their experiences at the University of Miami.

University of Miami t.v. spot

Election Day

Sunday, John McCain visited the Bank United Center, speaking alongside local politicians, his wife Cindy and daughter Meagan, and actor Kelsey Grammer. It was one of many appearances by politicians this weekend as they attempted to encourage as many people as possible to visit the polls.

President Shalala has done a terrific job of getting the youth involved in this extremely important election. In response, the youth themselves dedicated themselves heart and soul into the campaigns that they felt the strongest about. It is amazing how much one person can do to make a difference- I doubt anyone's hardwork will go unnoticed.

If you haven't already,
Go Vote!

to find where you need to go in order to place your vote, visit:
http://election.msn.com/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx?GT1=34123

Get Out the Vote

Considering that this may be one of the most historic election years yet, the University of Miami has been hosting incredible events to get students interested in politics. Often times, these events are hosted by none other than some of the most important people involved in the campaigns.

Earlier in the year, Barack Obama visited the Bank United Center to a large turn out. I personally had to wait in line for about 2 hours, and got to sit right behind the stage (ok, so not the best seat, but I was on tv!). His speech and those given before him were absolutely amazing. Obama has also visited sites extremely close to the Coral Gables campus, allowing students a 2nd and 3rd chance to learn more about his campaign.

Just last week, Mary Matalin and James Carville also visted the Bank United Center, where students were sat on the floor (as compared to seats in the stands). I was able to meet Carville afterwards, get a picture with him, and his autograph- all of which I will be adding later :-) They talked about living with one another (seeing as Matalin worked with Bush/Cheney and Carville with the Clintons). They also took questions from the students (moderated by President Shalala).

Today, Hillary Clinton will be visiting a site nearby the Coral Gables campus on behalf of the Obama campaign, while tomorrow Senator John McCain will be visiting the Bank United Center.

Now who else can offer you all of that?

For any of those who are registered- don't miss the chance to make a big change- get out there and vote!