College student needing help with diet

[christy]

Hi,

I just started college this fall and am finding it hard to keep to the low carb diet. It was easier when I lived at home as my Mom helped me a lot. Now that I am living in a dorm I am finding it tough. I guess I just didn't master menu planning at home. :confused:

I have PCOS and am using the Insulite system.

Do you have any suggestions that can help me. I do most of my eating at the cafeteria, but I do have a small fridge in my room for snacks.

Please send me some ideas that are college student friendly.

Christy

[drheather]

Hi,

I just started college this fall and am finding it hard to keep to the low carb diet. It was easier when I lived at home as my Mom helped me a lot. Now that I am living in a dorm I am finding it tough. I guess I just didn't master menu planning at home. :confused:

I have PCOS and am using the Insulite system.

Do you have any suggestions that can help me. I do most of my eating at the cafeteria, but I do have a small fridge in my room for snacks.

Please send me some ideas that are college student friendly.

Christy

Dear Christy,

Thanks for writing in. I hope your first year of college is going well so far and you are not already exhausted from work, maybe from meeting people and getting used to your surroundings but not work yet.

I do have some suggestions for you. I can certainly remember how difficult it was with knowing what the best choice between the options given to me.

Great you already have a small fridge, this will be very useful. Since you have a fridge you can easily store salads, hummus, plain yogurt with fresh or thawed fruit, cheese, raw veggies like carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, etc. All of these make quick meals and snacks.

Instead of pasta and white bread, aim to eat whole grain crackers like Rye Vita and Wasa.

I strongly encourage you to obtain a hot plate. I know where I went to school this was not allowed, so please check first. With a hot plate, you can make hard boiled eggs (you may be able to find these at a grocery store already made), which is an excellent quick breakfast food and snack. You can also make your own homemade chili, soups, stew, and omelets on a hotplate! One tip is to make food in large enough quantities that it will last you for several days since your time is so limited. For instance, on Sunday night you could make a stew that will last you for Monday and Tuesday.

Canned chili and soup, and even scrambled eggs can also be made in the microwave rather quickly.

Canned tuna fish and canned salmon make quick, easy salads which you can eat with raw veggies, crackers, or stuffed into tomatoes.

Don't forget the nuts! Almonds, walnuts, cashews are great to have on hand for a quick snack.

I know this probably sounds like a lot of work. However, I believe that once you get used to a routine like this, it can help you feel so much better because not only will you feel better physically, but also you will have the satisfaction of being proactive about your health.

How is the exercise going? If you are finding this difficult to fit in, find a friend that is in a class and use a walk as study time (using note cards makes this easier).

Christy, I hope that this helps. Please keep in touch and let me know if I can help further.