College Healthy Eating 101

If you are heading off to college soon, you may want to take note of these nutrition tips. Between cafeteria meals, late-night studying, busy class schedules, and dorm-room snacks, making healthy choices can sometimes be a challenge.

Here are 21 simple ideas for eating healthier in the cafeteria and your dorm room to make good nutrition a little easier during college.

21 Healthy Eating Tips for College Students

1. Keep a water bottle with you.Having a water bottle nearby will remind you to drink more throughout the day. Try drinking water with every meal.

2. Keep fresh fruit in your dorm room.Stock a fruit basket with easy-to-grab options for snacks between classes.

3. Stock your mini fridge with healthy choices.Keep vegetables, yogurt, whole-grain bread, applesauce, snap peas, and other nutritious options readily available. Nuts also make an easy shelf-stable snack.

4. Don't skip breakfast.Instead, be selective about breakfast foods. Look for whole-grain breads, oatmeal, fruit, fruit salad, and granola. Limit options like bacon, sausage, and greasy eggs.

5. Switch up the burger and fries.Occasionally substitute a cheeseburger and fries with a bean burrito, tuna wrap, or chicken sandwich.

6. Satisfy your sweet tooth with fruit.Try fresh fruit, fruit salads, or fruit toppings when you're craving something sweet.

7. Visit the salad bar.Load up on fresh vegetables whenever you can. Choose lighter dressings and limit extras such as cheese, bacon bits, and croutons.

8. Choose whole grains.Whenever possible, choose 100% whole-grain breads, tortillas, pastas, and cereals.

9. Be mindful of juice portions.Limit juice to a small glass with breakfast. Orange and grapefruit juice are sources of vitamin C.

10. Skip the soda.Choose water or another nutritious beverage instead of making soda an everyday habit.

11. Limit breaded and fried foods.Choose grilled, baked, or roasted options more often.

12. Be choosy at dinnertime.Remember, you don't have to try everything in the cafeteria. You'll have another chance!

13. Swap out the fries.Ask for grilled vegetables or soup instead of fries when those options are available.

14. Skip the vending machine when you can.Keeping your own snacks on hand makes it easier to choose something more nutritious.

15. Plan for late-night hunger.If you stay up late, you're bound to get hungry. Instead of automatically ordering a late-night pizza, try fruit and a granola bar.

16. Lighten up your baked potato.Enjoy a baked or sweet potato with a small amount of cottage cheese or plain yogurt instead of loading it with butter, sour cream, and bacon bits.

17. Choose vegetable-based soups.Enjoy vegetable soups regularly and limit creamy soups.

18. Add flavor with salsa and vegetables.Try salsa on your sandwich instead of mayonnaise. Tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, and peppers also make great additions.

19. Eat beans.Enjoy beans with rice, in burritos, soups, chili, or hummus. Beans provide protein and fiber and can help keep you satisfied.

20. Keep nuts handy.Nuts make a convenient snack between classes. Consider unsalted varieties when available.

21. Leave room for treats.Allow yourself a few reasonable treats each week so healthy eating doesn't feel overly restrictive.