Health and Human Services Professional Development

Stress and Food Choices Author: Melanie Burns Stress can influence eating patterns for college students, and eating patterns can influence college students’ satisfaction with how they handle problems (see  Cornejo & Cookston ).  Eating healthy does not need to end when you leave for college nor should it wait until you are through college.  While life stressors can make healthy eating less of a priority, making healthy food choices needs to happen every day. Little changes, such as eating breakfast and drinking low-fat milk, can make a difference in how you handle your weekly or daily stress.  The calories from the late-night pizzas and the all-you-care to eat dining hall buffets can add up quickly! For more information on making healthy food choices during the college years, visit the  USDA’s My Place On Campus . *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Eating for Energy: 4 Easy Tips by   Natasha Chong Cole, MPH, RD   on   June 5, 2014   We get it – you’re busy. You barely have time to sleep, much less go to the gym or cook a homemade meal. You fall asleep in class or at your desk, and you zone out every 15 minutes.  The good news is that nutrition can help improve your energy situation. The bad news is that none of these tips are a replacement for actual sleep, so be sure to catch your zzzzs 1.     Stay hydrated.  The human body needs adequate water to function, and sometimes fatigue is simply a result of dehydration.  Carry a water bottle with you as a constant reminder. Also, beware of vitamin waters, sports drinks, and energy drinks, which can contain a lot of sugar and/or caffeine. If you’re not a fan of plain water, try jazzing it up with  fruit or herbs .  Check out:  Better Beverage Finder 2.      Eat often . Meal timing is an importan...