Eating healthy while in college can be very difficult, especially when you are on a tight budget. Honestly, when it came to food, all I really thought about was "what is going to keep me full for the rest of the day?" Health was not particularly on my mind. But after learning a bit more on it, and its connection to diet, I wanted to do better.
So, what got me serious?
I was always tired. I didn't know why I was so exhausted, but after talking to an acquaintance, she said that it was probably my diet. She asked me what I had eaten that day and I simply told her: two mini cupcakes, a mini muffin, some mac and cheese, and some chips (I think they were Cheetos). She then asked me if I took vitamins, and I said no because I didn't think that I needed them. That was when I decided that it probably was my diet, and that it was time to eat better.
But, there was a problem. I didn't know how to start. Over the summer I had gone to Pinky Promise Conference, a women's conference in Atlanta, and while there I purchased a book called A Perfect Recipe by Heather Lindsey. It's a 30 day devotional that has great tips and recipes when it comes to food and life. I decided to look into it and found a grocery list of fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices, grain, and a few other categories. I created my own grocery list using it as a reference, and went to a grocery store known for local, fresh, and organic food.
Since I was on a budget, I chose to get organic frozen fruit and vegetables (with the exception of a couple of sweet potatoes), stuck to my list (unless the store didn't have what I was looking for), and kept up with prices. I actually spent less than I normally would, and I was so surprised. I was even more surprised after my first healthy meal because I immediately felt energized. I thought it was a trick, or some sort of placebo effect, but I truly felt a lot better.
For a while now, I have been avoiding pork and beef. I'll eat it if I have to, but if I have a choice I never do. I found out that I like turkey and chicken a lot better. For example. I love turkey bacon, more than I like pork bacon, and now I don't really like barbecue ribs or pork chops. I can't say that I avoided these meats for any particular reason, it just happened, and now that it has been so long, they just don't taste as good to me any more.
I am so happy with this choice, and now I have even found new food favorites. Like cashews. I never used to eat nuts, but they are really good to me now, and remind me potatoe chips. It's a good alternative. I still eat "junk" food every now and then, but a lot less. I actually don't eat it to replace a meal (I used to eat a bag of chips for dinner if I didn't have anything else).
Something else that I am sort of excited about is the Nutribullet Rx (a blender). My mom got it for me after she heard I was trying to eat more healthy foods. I really didn't want her to get it for me after seeing the price, but she insisted, and I think it hurts peoples pride when you don't accept their gifts. She called it a early birthday present, so I gave in even though I was skeptical. I used it for the first time last week, and I was amazed. I used it to make my own version of tomato bisque, and so far I'm speechless-in a good way. One of the good things about this blender is that it can make soup. I mean it actually comes out hot by the end of the soupblast cycle. You just put the ingredients in, and seven minutes later, soup! Now, I just have to see how well it does with smoothies and what-not. Milkshakes!
Eating healthy will now be apart of my lifestyle. I like it.
Lisa
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