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Healthy College Eating Habits

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling or looking for more mental health resources, visit the JED website.


Good nutrition is beneficial to energizing our bodies for the day. While in college, a student’s eating habits can change significantly from when they are home. Because of this sudden change in nutrition, students are more susceptible to unhealthy eating. This can lead to more anxiety, exhaustion, irritability, and even illness. McGraw Hill has partnered with The Jed Foundation (JED) to bring awareness to mental health resources and tools. This video addresses the topic of healthy eating, with some steps below that students can take to form and maintain healthy eating habits.

1. Take care of your body by balancing foods

When going to the dining hall instead of having a meal prepared for them, students will be presented with a variety of options. While it is tempting to eat only greasy foods, it’s important to balance out a student’s diet with a nice portion of fruits and/or vegetables. A well-balanced diet can help students handle stress and achieve academic success.

2. Have snacks in your room

While on a college campus, students may spend much of their time in their dorm room. They’ll often spend time studying or doing work for much of the day. It’ll be important to stock up on healthy snacks for days like this.

3. Three meals a day are essential

Food is like fuel. The human body gets fuel from the food we eat, which stimulates the body for the day. Students may think that skipping a meal can provide them with more time to be productive, but it gives the opposite effect. With an abnormal eating schedule, students can be prone to fatigue, exhaustion, and anxiety.

While it can be tough to maintain healthy eating habits, students should know there are resources available to assist them. Students can look up the school menu for the day, or even consult a nutritionist or dietitian. When maintaining healthy eating habits, students should be sure to have at least three meals, balance the types of food they’re eating, and remember to stock up on some snacks in their room.

For even more videos covering mental health topics, check out JED’s video playlist.