Because it’s a new year I pledge to have a new, healthier diet.

HAHA as if that pledge hadn’t already been quite overused in my lifetime. Oh, especially in my college days. Which, of course, reminded me of my inspiration behind this article I wrote some months back:

No Food Like Fast Food?

by Jeahan Virda B. De Barras

 It’s 11 pm and you still haven’t made any progress studying for that super long exam you have the following day. You look at your bed and you feel even worse as you try to resist its ultra magnetic force beckoning you to sleep on it. But no, you tell yourself. You have to resist the temptation of  that compelling force. You text your friend and she responds, “I’m in McDo. Diri ta tuon.”

Fast food? You ask. But hey, it’s either that or you giving in to the compelling attraction of sleep and failing horribly in that long exam tomorrow or surrendering to the enticement of eating. Of course you just choose the latter. You promise yourself that you will not eat anything, you’re on a diet. Then you get there, and you end up buying two cheeseburgers, one large fries, one caramel sundae, one Coke Float and one reheated instant spaghetti. Phew. Diet? What diet?

What is it with college that makes you eat more than what you can chew no matter how much you swear to the gods that you will still fit in that size 26 jeans for the rest of the year?

Your high school teachers warned you about it and despite your constant denial (and sometimes taken offense) behind every “Nanambok kaaaaaa” observations from the people of your past whenever you see them, indeed they were right:

You will acquire mountains, plateaus, volcanoes of calories once you get in college.

According to Kristie Leong in her article for associatedcontent.com, the lack of time and the unwillingness to prepare your own food are the main reasons why you hear to fast foods for your nightly meal. The other is peer pressure.

But fast foods are loaded with calories from refined sugar and fats. They are also very high in sodium from common salt and other additives. In addition, fast food is deficient in dietary fiber and essential micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. To top it all, they are a major risk factor for a large number of deadly diseases like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and even cancer. Scary, right?

Yet however unhealthy they may be, resisting them is just hard. Especially during all-nighters for long exams. You have no choice: what else in Dumaguete city are open from 11pm onwards?

Then again, if you really are concerned (and you should be, dear reader), here are a few things you can do not only so that people won’t occasionally be taking you for a pregnant person but also, hey, keep your life long enough to witness your youngest great, great granddaughter marry someday:

1.

 So you don’t have a reason to go out during times when you must have something to chew on, stock up on healthy snacks like Granola bars, oatmeal packs, energy or protein bars, popcorn, nuts, fresh fruits, whole grain crackers, cereals, bread, yogurt cups, low-fat milk and the like.

My Forever Happiness. <3 Yummm!

2.

Along with never-ending long exams and requirements, college life comes with changes and challenges that can be so stressful. It’s common to turn to a Big Mac (and Twister Fries, and an Apple Pie, and another Big Mac) to deal with the stress. To avoid this, look for other ways to cope other than eating. Journaling, going to the gym or jogging may be good alternatives to explore.

And be cool like them.

3.

You may also consider learning how to cook.

(And yeah, she is my favorite Top Chef contestant of all time)            

Remember that in a few more years you’ll probably be out there in the “real world”  where at some point you’ll be expected to show what you can do in the kitchen (in an attempt to impress your officemates or your boyfriend’s mom). So as early as now, you can hone your cooking skills to prepare foods that are not only yummier than greasy fried Chicken Joy, but also way healthier.

HAHAHAHA Attempts:

Ginataang Shrimp

Lasagna

HAHAHAHA. Attempts. HAHAHAHAHA.

4.

Drink plenty of water—a whole heck of a lot. Water helps keep your skin smooth and tricks your body into feeling full on very few calories. Drinking eight glasses of water a day helps keep your body hydrated and flushes out irregularities in your system to help fight off illness. Also try that instead of drinking soda or iced tea alongside your meals.

If not available, local drinking water would have to do HAHAHA

5.

Eat your breakfast! As if it hadn’t already been said a million times before, it is the most important meal of the day. You find yourself more energized for the day’s activities and you will find yourself cra ving less for random snacks with friends after your morning classes. 

(Yay. I finally found a reason to have this photo here. HAHAHA.)

6.

And finally, remember, food is a lot more than nourishment for your body. Enjoy and savor it—so that you don’t finish ahead of your companions and guiltily order more at the counter.

(I’m so sorry, Teetle Lezama and Grace Nidoy. It’s just that I miss you both (especially the mukaon-jud-ko-bahala-mo old you, Teetle Lezama HAHAHA) so much and this photo just brings back so much good early college days memories that I couldn’t resist posting Heehee)

Of course this doesn’t mean that you have to give up fast food for good. You have never done anything wrong to not deserve a caramel sundae (with extra, extra caramel) and the enticing grease of cheeseburger. But to avoid looking like a permanent border of these fast food stores, why not try to limit your visits?      

 ……………………

Story is, I think I may have followed this myself for a few weeks. And then I missed caramel sundae (with extra, extra caramel) so much that I forgot all about my little pledge yet again (and I wish to blame my college friends for this HAHAHAHA).

But a little update! I haven’t had fast food for months now. I think I’m getting good at this. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Haha.