The Importance of Teaching Healthy Eating Habits

1166 Words3 Pages

Introduction

College students lead very busy and stressful lives which impacts all aspects of their health. One of the highest risks of a hectic routine is poor eating habits. Many students commonly reach for junk food during study sessions, or fast-food during a night out with friends. Also, many students have reduced impulse control and will choose to eat foods that are high in fat, salt, carbohydrates, and sugar. It is vital that students understand the importance of their choices as well as ways to make better decisions when it comes to meals and snacks.

The purpose of this report is to educate readers on the factors that lead to eat poor habits, and to share some concepts of healthier eating.

This report has the following sections: Introduction, Stress and Student Choices, Schedules and Life Factors in Eating Habits, Ways to Change Eating Habits, Conclusions, Recommendations, References and Appendixes, and Summary.

The report has collated information from The Relationship Between Stress and Eating in College-Aged Students, Bad habits, schedules determine student diets, College student eating habits and nutrition and Healthy Eating for College Students on a Budget.

Stress and Student Choices

Many college students deal with a high stress levels each day due to a busy routine of homework, family life, and work. According to Ruth Blackburn, a nutrition specialist, students can assume poor eating habits for numerous reasons. “Time constraints that make eating a well-balanced meal seem impossible. Lack of sleep and stress can fuel the desire for high sugar and/or high fat foods.” (as cited in Woll, 2002). Foods with high amounts of sugar and fat give a temporary boost of energy that can carry a student through a class...

... middle of paper ...

...Healthy Eating Plate. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/images/diet_nutrition/harvard-healthy-eating- plate.jpg

Paul W. M., Smith, M. M.A. Segal, J. Ph. D. (2013, September). Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Diet & Sticking to It. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.html

McNicoll, S [Article]. Ellis J. (2002, February 8). [Picture] College student eating habits and nutrition. Retrieved from http://sustainontario.com/2011/02/08/4083/good- food-ideas-for-kids/college-student-eating-habits-and-nutrition

University of Michigan Health Systems. (2012). Healthy eating for college students on a budget. [Newsletter]. Michigan, MI: Willyard, V.

Woll, S. (2002, March, 28). Bad habits, schedules determine student diets. Retrieved October 7, 2013 from http://www.michgiandaily.com/content/bad-habits-schedules-determine-student-diets

Show More
Related

  • Human Observation Project Paper

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    The problem behavior associated with individuals making bad food choices when presented with unhealthy food will need to be observed so that we may understand how to change this behavior as it is unhealthy and harmful to health overall. Are poor choices in different foods causing obesity? Making poor choices when it comes to food is an

    Read More

  • Problems with Obesity in America

    603 Words  | 2 Pages

    Having to eat so much is problem and the authors have great ideas to help prevent over eating. Americans around the world need to stop eating so much because they play as a role model to the youth and young adolescents. Healthy eating is the most beneficial despite how it sometimes taste.

    Read More

  • Barbara Kingsolver Called Home

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...College students are the next generation of food consumers just starting to purchase and prepare their own food, setting purchasing habits that will follow them into their lives as they start their own careers. These habits will shape what food is in demand, and therefore what food is produced. Not only do college students hold financial power over the future economy, but they must make the decision of whether to become the next unhealthy generation, that will also indoctrinate their children to accept the level of food quality that is currently labeled as junk food as a standard level quality of food.

    Read More

  • The Real Cause of the 'Freshman 15'

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    When you walk into the student union or the Keathly University Center some of the first things to catch your eye will be Panda Express, Chik Fil A and a few other chain restaurants as long with many small stores with and endless supply of snacks. These are the choices allowed to the students on campus. Where many live on campus and do not have transportation, or they do not have the financial support to go out, so they are forced to dine on campus. While it is any kids dream to have a famous chain restaurant like McDonald’s in their backyard the practicality of such is slim to none, but with the advances society has made it is not only a possibility but a way of life on a college campus. An alternative to these food choices should be available for students. Fast food is not healthy food and right now our health is a big factor in our grades. If you want to be successful in school than you have to make sure all other aspects of your life are also in order, your health being one of the most important. According to the Huffington Post they do not have enough healthy choices for us to choose from. If you give an eighteen year old the option to choose between a ...

    Read More

  • Transitioning to College: The Freshman 15

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    Racette, S.B., Deusinger, S.S., Strube, M.J., Highstein, G.R., & Deusinger, R.H. (2005). Weight changes, exercise, and dietary patterns during freshman and sophomore years of college. Journal of American College Health, 53(8), 245-251.

    Read More

  • Obesity: Serving Sizes Are Growing in America

    670 Words  | 2 Pages

    With an unlimited meal plan and buffet-style meals, do we students know how big our portions should be?  If we are accustomed to being served super-sized portions, we might not realize when we are serving ourselves over-sized portions in our dining halls. In fact, researchers have found that increased portion size is an even greater problem in cafeteria settings like ours, noting a positive association between larger food receptacles and increased consumption(2).  A correlational study at Cornell found significant weight gain in freshmen during the first twelve weeks of school and identified that both the “all-you-can-eat” dining hall style and student snacking on “junk-food” were key variables explaining a positive linear relationship with weight gai...

    Read More

  • Research Methodology: Qualitative Methods of Data Collection

    1727 Words  | 4 Pages

    Young,E,Fors,S.(2001). Factors Related to the Eating Habits of Students in Grades 9-12. Journal of School Health, 71(10), 483-488.

    Read More

  • Freshmen Fifteen

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first and most obvious reason for weight gain is food. College cafeterias are smorgasbords of hot, greasy, fatty, empty calorie foods. At Seton Hall University, all freshmen are required to purchase a meal plan that comes with various amounts of Pirate dollars that can only be used on food. These Pirate Dollars are equal to one dollar and students are given an overage each semester. In order to avoid losing money, many students use these dollars to buy snacks in between all three meals. At the end of the year, the money is not refundable, so students must splurge once again in order to avoid throwing away their money. Whether students’ classes are far apart or back to back, they are likely to stuff themselves because they need to prepare to sit through about 3 or more hours of lecture, or their next class isn’t for another two or three hours and they plan to eat and “take a quick catnap.

    Read More

  • Wendell Berry's The Pleasures Of Eating: Analysis

    1606 Words  | 4 Pages

    Time is another big struggle for college students. I know the feeling of applying for classes because it’s tough to decide on if there’s time to get from one class to one another; also if there’s time to get a bite to eat. Wendell Berry’s “The Pleasures of Eating: In What Are People For?” article suggests taking pleasure in eating a few ways to help anyone be a healthier eater, but “time” is an obstacle for the solutions. First off, both Berry and actually Pollan suggest students grow their own food in gardens. Specifically, Berry says to “Participate in food production to the extent” and “You will be fully responsible for any food that you grow for yourself, and you will know all about it. You will appreciate it fully, having known it all

    Read More

  • Diet Analysis Reflection

    1509 Words  | 4 Pages

    The question comes up again; “How is your diet?” Jessica revisited her diet analysis from the first week of class. She noticed that some things have changed and some things, unfortunately, have not changed. She knew that some things would not change because of the hectic and busy semester and summer she had ahead of her but the things that did change surprised her. This class did some good for her, but she still needs some work on her diet and nutrition.

    Read More

  • Personal Nutrition Analysis

    1786 Words  | 4 Pages

    Proper nutrition is important in maintaining a long and healthy life. Most Americans are rushed due to their busy work schedules, and do not take the time to plan their diets properly. Like me, most Americans are unaware of the importance of eating a healthy diet and consume too many foods without the proper nutrients. Throughout my life I have been fortunate. I have not had any major health problems, and have been able to consume most foods without having to worry about gaining weight. These last two years, however, I started to gain weight and have become concerned with my diet. Changing my poor eating habits has been difficult for me, however, having this assignment has taught me that it is not as difficult as I previously imagined.

    Read More

  • Mandatory Meal Plans Essay

    1926 Words  | 4 Pages

    Did you ever imagine that what goes into your body might depend on something other than your choice? Currently at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the Daytona Beach campus, many types of campus issues exist. The mandatory meal plans for first-year students has become a very controversial issue. This controversy is caused by the mandatory purchase of at least 14 meals per week, amounting about $3,000. From my experience as a first-year student, I can say that I would save $1,000 an academic year eating the food and the quality I like if I was not required to buy meal plans. In this essay, I will argue that mandatory meal plans do not benefit first year students because of the cost, nutritional value, and dietary restrictions.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Eating Healthy In A College Student Essay

    2034 Words  | 5 Pages

    Through life we have many different stages to where we are either settling down for a nice home cooked meal or we are constantly on the go, running around our hectic lives, eating very unhealthy foods. Especially in our college years, students are always on the go running to and from class grabbing a burger and fries from a campus restaurant or eating the microwaveable foods like ramen. Many people try to eat healthy, but always succumb to the stereotype that eating healthy is expensive and takes too much time. This is a common misconception because there are ways in which anyone can eat healthy and on a budget as long as they eat proper portions, eat the right kind of foods, and excessive.

    Read More

  • The Unhealthy Diet of College Students

    1984 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...omething to go. I found out that college student’s want foods that are quick, taste good, and cheap. The limitation to my research was that I only passed out ten surveys all at the cafeteria. Perhaps if I did more or passed them out at a different location I might have gotten different results. I also only interviewed two people, and a larger sample might have changed my results. Also only observing my roommates shopping might have limited me to what I always eat, other college students might buy healthier foods when they shop. Take a minute now and think about what you eat in an average day and see if you fall into the categories of eating unhealthy with the majority of college students. Next time you buy something to eat take a second and look what’s in it and think to yourself. Should I be eating this? Or is there something healthier that I could be eating?

    Read More

  • Speech on Healthy Eating Habits

    681 Words  | 2 Pages

    First, I will address the root issue of many people’s eating habits, and then I will expand on why and how to develop a healthier lifestyle.

    Read More

More about The Importance of Teaching Healthy Eating Habits

Open Document