The answer to this question seems quite obvious: overeating. However, there are actually many different components that contribute to students gaining weight during their college years. I sat down with Stephanie Teaford, the Community Liaison for STRIDE, a research organization at Cal Poly dealing with causes and prevention of obesity, to discuss what really causes the dreaded “Freshman 15.”
Iron Board Grilled Cheese
7 FebThis week is the first time I have experienced something that is very common among college freshman… Homesickness. Unlike many of the students in my dorm, the first quarter was a breeze for me. I never found myself missing home or my old friends because I was having such a great time at school. While I am still loving college, I can’t shake the constant feeling of sadness whenever I think about my hometown or pets and find in increasingly difficult to hold back tear every time I talk to my family.
While going home to ease the homesickness isn’t really an option right now, I thought that making some good ol’ fashion comfort food may do the trick.
“The food you eat can actually change the chemical composition of your brain. Carbohydrates like pasta and breads can trigger the release of serotonin which can actually make you feel happier and less stressed,” Susan Greenwood, a psychologist specializing in eating disorders, from San Diego, CA, said.
Microwave Denver Omelet in a Mug
31 JanWhen I was a kid, my family and I went on vacation to Disneyland. We spent hours and hours going on the rides, walking around the park, and meeting all the characters, but oddly enough being at the actual park wasn’t my favorite part of the trip. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and each morning we got up and ate at Mickey’s Kitchen and my most vivid memory of this trip was… the omelet bar.
I can remember walking up to a counter full of different vegetables, cheeses, and meats and being able to put whatever I wanted onto a fluffy bed of eggs. From that moment on I was obsessed. I would beg my mom each morning to make me one before school or if I was really craving it for a breakfast for dinner type of thing. As you can imagine, I got really sick of omelets after having them every morning for about a year.
Recently, my love for omelets has returned and I have been craving them all the time. However, unlike some schools that are lucky enough to have one of these magical omelet bars, mine does not. So I have come up with a solution! This omelet can be made in about 5 minutes in the comfort of your own dorm room. Click through the pictures to see how!
Eggcellent Denver Omelet in a Mug
(yes, the egg pun was necessary)
- 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped onion
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 ounce (about a handful) of ham
- 2 tablespoons shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
Serving suggestion: Whole-wheat English muffin
The Ultimate College Grocery List
17 JanLately, I have found myself really missing one thing about home… My pantry. Looking back I realized how often I took advantage of the fact that I constantly had unlimited access to whatever I was craving. Seriously, it was the Narnia of pantries. However, it is apparent that this magic was restricted to my house because the food supply I have at school pales in comparison.
Let’s face it; no matter how good your dining hall food may be it is essential to have food in your dorm. Whether it be that it’s way to hard to get yourself out of bed to walk all the way to the cafeteria, or you just really need some midnight munchies, it’s convenient to have something more than a pack of Skittles and some questionable milk in your fridge.
Now, the problem is: What to buy? “The most popular foods that college students buy are frozen dinners, cereal, and chips… and beer,” said Jessica Majors, manager of Albertson’s in San Luis Obispo. These foods may be good choices for conveniency (and parties) but they are not necessarily the healthiest picks. Some students have somewhat of an idea of what to buy, “I always have Easy Mac, peanut butter, bread, and popcorn in my room,” said Janelle Coccimiglio, a freshman at Cal Poly. However, many others don’t have the slightest idea of what they should have in their room, “I usually have some peanut butter, and that’s about it,” said Daniel Sweeny, freshman at Cal Poly. So, here’s a list to give you an idea of what types of food you may want to stock your room with.