healthy swaps: the college edition

I'm going to go ahead and say that college kids are probably among the most unhealthy group of people in the land. It's a fast-paced lifestyle where microwavable meals are "necessity" and all-nighters are an everyday occurrence. We've all heard of the dreaded "Freshman 15," which, if not stopped, can turn into a whole slew of weight problems for the entirety of one's college career. Who has time to worry about fluctuating weight when there are classes, exams, and nagging professors all around? If you feel tired all the time, chances are, that's your body screaming at you to start nourishing it properly and getting sleep! I don't want to hear any excuses, okay? During my college years, (however short of a time that may have been) I worked TWO jobs, played in a very active band, maintained a 4.0 GPA and still managed to get a solid seven and a half hours of sleep every night. Before you go to the grocery store to trade in your Easy Mac and Cup 'O Noodles for stalks of broccoli and Rainbow Kale, I implore you to practice good time-management. With a lot of sleep and a mind that's not cluttered by endless streams of unnecessary social media, you'll be surprised at how much better you'll feel. And if that doesn't work, here are some snacks to grab on your way out the door when you're late for class:

1. We all have a sweet tooth, we do. Refined sugars are a silent killer and I think one of the main causes of the unhealthy college lifestyle. They're cheap, easy to find, and, let's face it, they taste pretty good. After a quick and fleeting sugar rush, however, they leave our energy levels completely depleted and leave us extra fat as a parting gift. If you find yourself feeling tired even after a good night of sleep, you should put down the Oreos and consider going raw for a few days. What better way to do that than with cookies? Some would argue that eating raw is the only way that you can get absolutely every bit of nutrient from the food that we put into our bodies. Makes sense though, right? None of the good stuff is zapped away in a cooking process so you're left with 100% of the nutrients. I even enjoy these cookies as breakfast sometimes! They may be small but a few are good enough to hold me over until lunchtime!

2. This is a snack that I keep in my bag at all times. Even if you're not athletic or super active, a quick punch of protein is always a good thing. These seitan and soy jerkies taste delicious and they'll give you that protein kick that you need.

3. Chia is a super food. Often called "the runner's food" because of their hydrating properties, Chia seeds reduce cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system and thus help weight loss. They're the richest plant source of Omega-3's, in fact, they contain more Omega-3's than salmon! (Which has a lot, if you're not into nutrition and didn't know that.) You can find Chia seeds everywhere nowadays. I love these Chia fruit bars. If you're feeling extra brave, try G.T.'s Grape Chia Kombucha. All of the benefits of kombucha, the nutrition of Chia, and it tastes a lot like jello! 

4. In keeping with the "rawness," try to find a raw fruit and nut bar to replace your granola bars. While granola bars aren't a bad breakfast or snack, you can take it a step farther with one of these nutrient-rich bad boys. I like Larabars the best because there are SO many flavors to choose from so you'll never get tired of eating them!

5. Coffee. It tastes good and it's got caffeine. Need I say more? Now, I don't think twice about drinking my coffee black because it's just what I've always done but apparently it's not normal, because whenever I say that, people look at me like I have 5 heads. However, if you want to get rid of some pointless calories in your daily routine, try drinking your coffee black. It'll keep you on your toes, that's for sure! I love this Black Coffee in a bottle but since it's made here in Philadelphia, I'm not sure if other parts of the country have it. I don't see why not, maybe? It's the most convenient thing in the world if you're on your way out the door and don't have time to brew a fresh pot, just grab one out of the fridge and you're good! Now, I know what you're going to say. "Erika, have you NEVER heard of Keurig?" I don't like it! The concept freaks me out and quite frankly, I find the single-sup deal to be selfish if you're living with more than one person! Maybe you guys can change my mind? Anywho, have a great Friday and a great weekend.

xo, e.m.

p.s. I feel like I was extra chatty during this post. Maybe all of the black coffee bottles?