Nutrition: A "New" Year

Can you believe September's almost over? I've been meaning to post this article for the beginning of the month but I was swamped with adjusting to a new schedule.  For me, a new school year is just as important as a new year; it's a time for me to set goals and resolutions!

As a new school year begins, we all start to adjust to new schedules academically and socially. It takes a few weeks or even a month to get used to a certain routine. In that time, we sometimes neglect our eating habits. We suddenly have hectic schedules with no time to eat healthy. This year, I encourage all of you to incorporate healthy eating into your daily lives as you begin to adapt to a new schedule. Here are a few tips I plan to follow:


Eat breakfast. Breakfast is a very important meal as it is our “starting” fuel. Wake up 10-15 minutes earlier if you feel like you don’t have enough time in the morning. Try to eat a breakfast that consists of as many of the food groups as possible. (Reminder: the four food groups are vegetables and fruits, grain products, milk and alternatives, and meat and alternatives).

Plan your meals. Take the time out once a week to plan what you’re going to make for your meals. This way, you can do your grocery in advance and ensure that you are getting lots of variety. Hopefully this will also help you make healthier meals and make you more self conscious of what you’re eating on a day-to-day basis.

Pack a lunch. If you take the time out to pack your own lunch you’re more likely to eat healthy and save money at the same time! A lot of the time we try to find the best deal, which may not be the healthiest choice.

Snack throughout the day. If you’re like me, you’re at school from 9am-6pm which means one lunch isn’t enough! Pack healthy snacks such as nuts, fruits, vegetables, or low fat yogurt. This will keep you energized throughout the day.

Bring your water bottle to school. Even if you are buying lunch, try drinking water instead of juice or pop. You will definitely cut down on the sugar and stay hydrated. (Tip for students at Ryerson: there’s a station to fill your water bottles in the Student Campus Centre courtesy of the RSU!)
I hope we all try to incorporate at least one of these tips into our daily routines and aim to live a healthier life in these next eight months!