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Tips for Eating Healthy as an International Student

Written by Alexander College in Lifestyle on October 30, 2019

Being a student can take a toll on your body. You have exams and deadlines, as well as added stress. All of this combined can lead to you feeling tired and not making the best choices when it comes to food. Eating healthy as a college student is tough if you lack the time to do so. Being an international student who lives away from family and familiarity can make eating healthy even more difficult than it should be.

It’s important to stay healthy as your body and mind is crucial towards helping you be the best student you can. Your physical body plays an important role in ensuring that your mental state is healthy as well. The foods that we consume can help us feel energized, if done right.

Eating healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle shouldn’t be something hard to achieve. Here are 3 easy tips for eating healthy as an International student :

Plan your meals ahead on the weekends

When you have classes through the week, it can get hard to plan out and prepare healthy meals in advance. Preparing your meals day to day might also not be realistic as you’d be studying or just too tired.

A great way to combat this is by planning your meals for the week on the weekends. The weekends should be a time for you to rest, and prepare ahead for the week.

Schedule in a day to go grocery shopping or browse Pinterest for recipe ideas. Go to the gym and socialize with friends.

This way, you’ll be able to maintain some balance between college and life, and still be well fed. As an International student, you might feel homesick and not know how to adjust to this new life. We share some steps to overcome feeling homesick here. 

Student holding picked cherries
Bowls of oatmeal topped with fruits showing healthy food options for Alexander College students

Balance your meals with the right amount of nutrients

Too much of one thing isn’t healthy. It’s important to balance out your meals to include all the necessary nutrients in your diet.

Greens are vital in your diet and you should always bear in mind to eat fruits and vegetables weekly, if not daily. You can mix in vegetables in your breakfast, include a small salad with your meals, or add vegetables into a juice/smoothie.

The more colourful the better!

Soups are also a great way to stay full, but get the nutrients you need. In the Fall, it’s a great time to search up fun Fall soup recipes as the weather gets colder.

If you do eat meat, be sure to balance it out with vegetables. Try to reduce consuming meat that is too fatty and you can even mix your meat with your veggies for a fun salad.

Instead of snacking on chips, perhaps try getting a vegetable platter to snack on instead. Carrots and celery with hummus is a fantastic combination!

Don’t forget, you can still eat well without breaking the bank. We share some tips on saving money as a college student here. 

Water splashing suggesting the importance of drinking water
Female student walking up stairs for exercise

Drink more Fluids and Walk to get your Food

Fluids are incredibly important for your body- we’re made of mainly water anyway! Water is a necessity for your body and many times, when you feel tired, it’s because of dehydration.

On campus, it can get pretty chilly depending on the weather, and it’s even a bigger reason to stay hydrated. Did you know that drinking water can also curb hunger?

Save the environment and bring your own water bottle that can be refilled on campus. Swell bottles are great, though slightly higher on the price market. That said, they are durable, last a long time and can hold hot water too.

If you’re not a fan of water, try adding some infused fruit to make your water taste better! Or go for tea! Green tea as an example is a great way to aid your digestion and is healthy.

We hope these simple tips are helpful as you navigate the world of healthy eating in college. Remember, your health is wealth!

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You can apply online above or request additional information below.

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Looking to start the application process? Apply to AC here
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