Going to school means less time for other tasks. Less time for sleep, less time for going out, less time for friends, and quite possibly less time for showering. It might also mean less time for eating, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat poorly. Top Ramen doesn’t have to be your staple; there are plenty of other healthy, nutritious, and good tasting foods out there that you can survive on while you’re crashing the books. They’ll even help you stay awake and avoid that after eating food coma crash. So take these tips seriously, and your body will thank you.
- Stay away from fast foods. While its true the menus of the various fast food restaurants are improving, fast food is still fast food. Keeping these unhealthy alternatives out of your body will help you when it comes to studying those long hours online without the imminent food coma crash.
- Buy groceries for several days’ worth. Save time from having to travel to and from the grocery stores daily. Purchasing enough groceries for three to four day blocks will ensure that you have enough food to last, but not have food long enough that it will spoil.
- Try to go Organic. In the grand scheme of things, eating foods that are not laced with pesticides and growth hormones are better for your body. Although the same amount of food may be at a 20% premium, the cost of a healthier body is immeasurable. So be smart when picking which foods to go for, as your body will thank you when you have to stay up studying for that test the next day.
- Make sure you purchase foods to maintain a balanced diet. Having too many carbs, or too much oils can disrupt an otherwise healthy digestive system. Make sure you add in fruits and vegetables; your body will thank you later.
- Prepare “just right” portions. The most common plague while being a student is to find the cheapest food available, and then eat the most of it. Luckily, you have the luxury of being able to decide your own portions, so judge accordingly. Eat enough so that you are content. If not, you’ll end up sleeping through that lecture from over-eating, or not paying attention during lecture, wondering when’s the next meal from under-eating.
- Cook meals that don’t require too much preparation time. Most of the time spent while cooking a meal can be used in preparing. Having to cut 10 different vegetables. Make sure that the meat is marinated. Cooking simple meals will help in this regard. Less preparation means getting to cooking faster, and finishing faster so you can get back online.
- Cook meals that don’t require constant attention. If you’re slaving over the hot stove, then you’re wasting your precious time. You can still have healthy meals that don’t require you to keep looking. Cook quick meals that take 10-15 minutes actual cooking time, or cook meals in a crock-pot that you can set it and leave for several hours, while you go back to that online lecture video.
- Make cleanup a snap. Try to reuse plates that you use (as long as it hasn’t had raw meat on it). If you had veggies on a plate waiting to be sautéed, use that same plate again. Time saved on washing dishes means more time to spend on your computer studying.
