Ramen Noodles.
Doughnuts.
Fries.
The items listed above are both a blessing and a curse. They are both a moment of pleasure and a feeling regret. But most often, they are difficult for a penny-pinching college student to avoid.
After a concert, a game, or any weekend night after celebrating with friends, you can find a very large amount of students congregating at one of many fast-food restaurants on campus. The late night binges are just not restricted for weekends though... Any good study session consists of a dozen delectable Crispy Creme doughnuts or a Papa John's pizza.
Not only are these foods alluring enough with their taste, but the price is what really keeps us coming back... even during hours when a perfectly healthy meal can be purchased or made. Specifically for college students, who are typically on a budget, inexperienced in the kitchen, and often have busy schedules, it seems sensible to consume a meal that offers absolutely no nutritional value and that will cost hours at the gym to work off.
There is no question that the freshman fifteen exists... I have experienced it personally. But what people don't talk about is the sophomore twenty, and the junior twenty-five that happens if you do not change the freshman habits of visiting Cook-out on Thursday, Friday, Saturday... and Sunday. (Yes I am speaking from experience).
Here is how...
Don't get me wrong, there is not a special medication that cures the deep desire for a crunch wrap supreme, but there are a few substations that can save you from the senior thirty...
Concern: I do not want the freshman fifteen, but I also have to survive on my minimum wage paycheck.
Suggestion: Get creative.
I fit under many of the categories that I previously listed... Inexperienced in the kitchen, on a budget, and often on-the-go. It is hard to even find a place that their food doesn't make me automatically feel 800 lbs after consuming. But there is one that fits the criteria for not directly causing me to gain the senior thirty... Chipotle. Now if you are not familiar, Chipotle is a Mexican Grill that prides itself on their natural tendencies. They have plentiful amounts of vegetables and fresh meat selection. My go-to meal consists of the following: Lettuce and (Brown) rice bowl, black beans, grilled peppers and onions, and double double pico de gallo. The best part about Chipotle is not just their fresh and healthy ingredients, but you are allowed to put as much pico de gallo, rice and beans on your order. This results in a finished product that is much more than just one meal. I have gotten three meals out of my to-go order. Now, my final price for my concoction is always $6.83. That price is hard to compete with other fast food selections, but when you make that $6.83 into two or three meals, that is worth it. Also, it is a meal that is just as good a few hours later (when refrigerated). I often eat half of my bowl for dinner and save the other half when I am craving Taco Bell nachos at 2am.
It is the little things that count and substituting a healthy Chipotle selection for a McDonalds burger will help the waist line and will not break the bank!
