By Ladiyah Beachum
College students lack healthy eating habits during holiday season. The holidays are the most challenging times of the year for students especially during the mid-November through mid-January months.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov), “Fruits and vegetables are sources of many vitamins, minerals, and other natural substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Some of these nutrients may also be found in other foods. Eating a balanced diet and making other lifestyle changes are key to maintaining your body’s good health.”
Patrick Olowo, 39, Nursing Major of Orange County agrees, “Students should have a gist of everything and don’t eat too much. Just enjoy the moment. Know your limits when drinking alcohol and even food. You have to know your limit with everything.”
Juggling assignment deadlines and guiltily wanting to enjoy quality time with loved ones is a mere challenge for students. Many believe that it’s the environments that students are from that make them eat the way that they do.
“Students diet choices are reflection of their surroundings. They eat what is convenient, not necessarily what is healthy. I am more informed, but being a grad student doesn’t necessarily help me eat better,” said graduate student, Shawn Kearse, 40, accounting major of Jersey City.
Many think that maintaining healthy diets during the holidays only consist of food bypassing exercise, which is also a key contributor. Matthew Weisman, 25, fire science-mathematics major from Jersey City says, “The more you eat the more exercise you have to do. Also don’t smoke or drink soda.”
Some think that it is more about the food intake of fruits and vegetables that determine your body calorie absorption. Students are convinced that eating a substantial amount of fruits and vegetables and exercising daily coincides with maintaining a healthy diet during the distracting holidays.
NJCU Freshman Michelle Cheng, 21, accounting major from Edison says, “Eat healthy by eating vegetables and fruits.”