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I'm a college student on a strict meal plan. I have no kitchen. No fridge. No microwave. It's dorm food or no food. That is much of my problem. I have access 3-times a day to what is basically an all-you-can-eat buffet of primarily junk food (pizza, fries, hamburgers, mashed potatoes, etc EVERY day!) with healthy options being few and far between. Even though it's all on my own shoulders, I feel like losing weight and making better choices is next to impossible in this environment.
I am so sorry that your healthy eating options are limited. It should NOT be like that on a college campus. Obesity is such a problem in developed countries. Some college students will eat junk no matter what is presented, but I've observed that if healthy options are there many students will make much better choices about what they eat.Originally Posted by Shifterred
I'm a college student on a strict meal plan. I have no kitchen. No fridge. No microwave. It's dorm food or no food. That is much of my problem. I have access 3-times a day to what is basically an all-you-can-eat buffet of primarily junk food (pizza, fries, hamburgers, mashed potatoes, etc EVERY day!) with healthy options being few and far between. Even though it's all on my own shoulders, I feel like losing weight and making better choices is next to impossible in this environment.
I work at a university and the food service here is very good. I often eat there myself even though I'm not a traditional student. They have a HUGE salad bar with lots of fixings, a plethora of fresh fruit, a fruit and yogurt bar, a part of the line has super healthy cooked options, make your own sandwiches with lean meats, grilled chicken sandwiches, chinese stir frys, and other healthy options depending on the day.
If there are VERY FEW healthy options the Dining Services at your university should be ASHAMED of themselves. Your health and the health of your fellow students is important! If they force you to live in the dorms and buy a meal plan (like many universities do for undergrades) they should feel doubly ashamed.
If they truly are not offering healthy foods then I would encourage you to e-mail a multitude of people that work in Dining Services at your University including the Director, the Executive Chef, the nutritionist and anyone else that seem relevant and tell them what you are trying to do and you are struggling to find healthy options at their dining centers. Just ask for advice first. You may even consider going over their head to complain about the food selections if you don't get a good response and the selection is abysmal.
In the meantime it sounds like you are thwarted with a poor selection and lots of temptation. All you can do is make the absolute best choices you can. Steel yourself to make the best choices you can based on what is available. Make a commitment to your health. The fact is we are all faced with obstacles that can keep us from succeeding. Part of this weight loss journey is beating those obstacles no matter how challenging they are. I know you can do this!