Between climbing grocery prices and dining hall fatigue students are getting creative with how they eat. From meal prepping to finding affordable grab-and-go options, students are discovering new ways to stay fueled and balanced without breaking the bank.
Hailey Perry, a senior and secretary of the Nutrition and Dietetics Club, said finding balance between enjoying the foods she likes, while also fueling her body for her workouts, classes and social life allows her to maintain her physical and mental well-being.
Source: Instagram, @shu_dining
“A typical week of meals for me includes balanced meals that fit around my class schedule, work, and activities, whether that’s for practice or going to the gym. For me, balance means not restricting myself, but also not being careless with what I eat,” Perry said.
With rising grocery costs, students begin to take note of how this impacts their choices.
“The price of food can really add up, especially as I started grocery shopping for myself at school. But I remind myself that I am investing in myself,” Perry said.
Students find that planning and prepping meals in advance aids in both their budgets and time management.
“I usually like to meal prep for the week or even just plan my meals for the day ahead of time rather than rushing when the time comes,” said senior Angelo Solatto. “Sometimes I will try different things in order to change things up or to find something new that I like,” said Solatto.
Junior Katie Duenges agrees that being consistent about what she eats helps her stay consistent without restriction.
“To me, balance means making healthy choices a majority of the time, Duenges said. “It is not about restriction, but more so about mindfulness, so that I can stay confident in being able to have whatever I want while still being nourished and properly fueled.”
Despite the challenges of eating on a budget, students say that Sacred Heart University’s dining services support those trying to make healthy choices.
“Sacred Heart definitely has a good variety of options. There are always fruit and salad options, and also protein choices, where a well-balanced meal can definitely be made,” said Duenges. “It’s also easy to find grab-and-go options like fruit or yogurt. It’s nice that there are multiple dining locations, which makes it easier to find something that fits into your schedule and also preferences.”
Perry added that Sacred Heart University continues to provide a variety of healthy options.
“SHU’s dining has a variety of options like the salad bar at Linda’s, or their smoothies or acai bowls, along with meal options that change every day at different dining halls,” Perry said. “SHU’s dining services has healthier options available for students to eat, if they choose to do so.”
For students trying to build healthy habits, Duenges said the key is in being consistent.
“For a student struggling to eat healthy during college, I would suggest starting small and staying consistent. To begin, this can mean making small changes such as increasing water intake, not skipping breakfast, or even just adding a fruit or vegetable to meals,” said Duenges. “Healthy eating does not have to be perfect, it is instead about finding a balance that hits all the points: budget, schedule, personal needs and desires.”
