Avoiding the Freshman 15 | Video

Juli McDonald | 9/5/2011

By now most college students are more comfortable in their new environments, having settled into their routines and class schedules. There`s also a good chance they`ve gotten more comfortable finding their way around the dining hall. Medical reporter Juli McDonald spoke with a Medcenter dietitian about how to avoid the dreaded freshman 15.

College can be a time of change for many students. New dorm, new friends, new classes. One change most people don`t want to deal with is buying bigger pants.

"You`re bombarded with a lot of choices. You don`t have your mom there reminding you that you need to eat your fruits and vegetables, and pushing you to have that balance and variety that you`re now responsible for," says Medcenter dietitian Kelly Fisher.

While pizza, fries and burgers can be nice treats once in a while, having them on regular basis is simply a bad idea. But even after leaving the dining hall, there are other factors working against you at college.

"The stress, the sleep, you`re up later hours. Nobody`s telling you it`s time to get to bed. You`re socializing, you`re studying. Usually when you`re doing that you`re also snacking," she says.

Fisher recommends heading into your meals with a clear mind and a game plan. Pat attention to how you feel, and what you`re putting on your plate.

" All this looks good but I want to start with less because the more food you put on that tray, the more you`re going to eat. Think, I`m going to cut it back some. If I`m still physically hungry I can always go back and get more. Maybe I`m full but that really looked good, I can always have that next time," says Fisher.

For a lot of students, class times conflict with meals, so it`s important to think ahead and have easy, healthy snacks on hand. Make sure to eat throughout the day so you don`t set yourself up for a late night binge.

A major part of the college life is socializing, so Fisher also recommends taking advantage of the wellness center with friends, or finding time between classes to take a walk with your roommate.

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