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Let’s face it — when the average person is in college, he or she doesn’t have extra money. With this in mind, it is pretty safe to say only a miniscule amount of those greenbacks to buy quality food. In fact, a pie chart constructed by Westwood College on a student’s spending habits did not include a single slice depicting edible expenses, healthy or unhealthy.
So where does this unwillingness to think wholesomely stem from? Whether a student lives on campus with a meal plan or off campus without one, there are steps he or she can take which contribute to achieving a sound mind and body condition. In other words, it is possible to be healthy on a budget.
On a typical day, there is a snake-like line at the spaghetti stand in the Memorial Union Marketplace. Meanwhile, the health food section is nearly empty, and even the salad bar looks like it could use a friend.
Spaghetti is seen by many students as the better financial deal, but which is the better deal for your body? Health foods such as hummus contain practically endless amounts of nutrition, including protein and iron. What does pasta with sauce have? Acid and calories.
In writing this article, I know I will probably not steer the entire student body to the health food store; but this is not my goal. Instead, I encourage students to analyze what they are eating. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Instead of french fries, try a soup or salad. Don’t know if you should get the soup because you’re not sure what that strange veggie is? Ask. Wish there were more salad dressing options? Ask.
Off-campus residents have just as many choices to make. Decisions such as determining how many carrots to buy are essential in the life of an off-campus college student. The non-dorm dweller must decide if certain foods are financially wise to purchase, and often healthy foods don’t make the cut.
When I wheel my squeaky cart to Hannaford’s vegetable section, the “budget and bargain” switch is turned to the “on” position.
Taking a moment to plan out meals for the week can have a tremendous effect on what one can afford. Buying just what is needed often cuts back on expenses in some areas and leaves money left for others. For instance, buying individual carrots instead of the whole bag leaves a couple extra cents or sometimes even dollars to put toward more nutritious items, such as organic eggs or a box of whole-wheat noodles.
Balancing the grocery scale is one of the most vital components in the life of a student living in off-campus housing. A student doesn’t necessarily have to “give up” something to afford healthier options. Simply planning ahead aids in making the final call when contemplating, “Do I really need all this?”
Have a topic on healthy living you feel passionate about? E-mail Jaclyn at mindandbody@mainecampus.com, about anything from recipes to controversies.
Bangor Daily News