full time student needs food advice

[e.mccoy]

Hello Everyone,

I need some tips, advice, or recipes for student moms on the go. School starts back real soon and i was hoping if some of you could offer some advice. I have made a new resolution to improve my health this year and i don't want to blow it with fast food all the time.

[AnotherMe]

If it's an option, you can pack a healthy lunch that is premade from your own home. Bring a bottle of water with you, as well as healthy snacks--pretzels, reduced fat Wheat Thins, etc.

If you have time between classes, spend your time walking around campus. Also, park farther away from the school for added steps in your daily routine.

I hope this somewhat helped!

[Jen]

My suggestion would be to either stock up on a lot of prewashed and ready to go stuff from the produce section ie bags of mini carrots and lettuce and stuff that is easy to eat (not messy or requiring a lot of peeling and chopping) ie bananas, oranges, apples are the good old standby. Also I buy a lot of frozen stuff you can nuke really easy, meat balls, chicken nuggets and frozen veggies. I'll heat up about 6 small meatballs and about 2 cups of frozen veggies and that is perfectly following dr phil's plan. Don't give into temptation and buy fast food!! Even if you buy frozen foods at the supermarket it is going to be less fat and less money than fast food. You can make mac and cheese for the kids in the microwave (you don't have to buy the individual ones, even the large box you can make in the nuker) and add some of the veggies and meatballs to it while you just have the meatballs and veggies. When you have time to cook double up on the recipe and freeze the rest for another meal ready to go. Brown bag your lunches as much as possible. I bought a HUGE insulated lunch bag so it is big enough for a large container of salad, a bottle of water, fruit and carrot sticks. Best wishes with school!

[angelfadedblue]

I am also a mother/student and have struggled with this issue for a long time. Sometimes there isnt just time to go home inbetween work and school or errands. I will occasionally pack snacks like carrots and dip or jsut whole fruits but when i need something with substance you have to do a meat and often there is no place to cook or anything. In those cases I will prepare myself by doing research at restaurants... mostly fast-food and see waht kind of salads they ofer and if they have now-fat/no fat dressings, or more often I choose to get a low-fat sub somewhere. I know the bread isnt as healthy as it should be, but hey- its better than a burger right? I personally like getting deli sandwhiches an whole wheat or grain breads with low-fat dressings or oils. Wendy's has good salads with low-cal dressings and some offer chicken strips or other meat on them. Just watch out for other fast food chains.. cuz "I'm NOT loving it" when it's 46 grams of fat for a basic salad.. I hope this gives you some ideas

[lilymay10633]

Hi! I am also a full time student. I am a divorced mother of 3 and am completing my bachelors in middle school education. I will be done next May! I know what you mean about the fast food. I would have a good breakfast but by the time I was done with classes I would be starving and since I pass all the fast food place on my way home I oftened stopped. I could also pack my lunch but I live an hour away so I am always in a hurry after class to get home and eating in the car is somewhat difficult. I have a million excuses but I am done using them. I need to own up to the fact that I am the only one that can change my situation.
I see that you are from Ohio. I am also. I live about 5 miles down the road from Cedar Point. I am attending Bowling Green State University.
I guess what I am going to do is eat a good breakfast and pack a snack that I can eat in class. If I will be gone at lunch time I will start packing my lunch. Just keeping healthy snacks around will help limit the junk that I eat. Good luck with the rest of your weight loss!
Amy

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