Freshman 15

Alright ladies, I know that you have all been told about the myth of the “freshman 15.”  Well, as many of you would not like to believe this will happen to you, this is not a myth.  There are many factors that can effect gaining this weight when coming in as a freshman, but the dining commons food plays a large part.  At first, the impressive buffets and food available at most hours of the day is very attractive, but these calories can add up and take a toll on your health.  There are some ways to use the meal plan in a healthy and delicious way to fuel your diet.

Portion sizes play a large part in weight gain your freshman year because at the buffets, you have unlimited access to many different options including pizza, pasta, salad, dessert, and many more.  Taking one plate at a time will allow you to judge how hungry you actually are and instead of having multiple options right in front of you.  Reading the menu before going into one of the buffets is a smart way to stay on top of your diet.  Also, one of Penn State’s claim to fame is the delicious Creamery Ice Cream which is conveniently offered in the buffet areas.  Even though this ice cream is absolutely delicious, the calories in this ice cream add up after a while, so be cautious when selecting dessert.  Another hack to stay smart in the buffet areas is to get the food to-go.  The container is properly portioned to make it easy to make good decisions regarding what you eat.

On a meal plan, you have access to the food marts in each commons area.  You can make smart decisions to stay on top of your health when making the decision on what to have for a meal or even just a snack.  Sometimes it is just quicker when studying to grab something quick to throw in the microwave.  Much of this pre-packaged contains extra sodium and sugar.  Instead, using the food marts to get fresh items is a good way to get the nutrients you need to get your quick fix.  Also, I am guilty of this: it’s late, and you are up studying a snack sounds like the perfect way to get a break and re-fuel your brain.  Freshman year, I went for the chips and pretzels and lots of sugary treats.  Binge eating is one of the quickest ways to gain weight and choosing snacks like apple slices or carrot sticks is a great way to fuel this want.

All in all, just make sure that you are aware that what you eat will eventually catch up to you.  Since you will now be living on your own, it is up to you to make these good decisions for yourself.  Have fun, be smart, and eat up!  

Melissa Monstrola is a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering, and is a Mentor for WEPO'15!