Nutritional Education

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Nutritional Education

Off to College:

When parents send their children off to college, they might entertain the notion that their little darlings, having been brought up with the four basic food groups, will continue to practice impeccable dietary habits. Little do they know that their children skip meals, guzzle soda by the case, subsist on a diet that would make a mother cringe (Baker 12).

Quick and easy meals are most attractive to students, so the microwave plays a major role in student's living habits. One half of all students say they use a microwave everyday, reports Roper CollegeTrack, an annual survey of student's behavior and attitudes.

When college students arrive on campus there are so many changes they must go through. The simple fact of not being home can cause major amounts of stress, therefore changing a young-adult's eating habits. From my personal experiences as a college student, I have seen one of two things happen to students: they either gain weight or lose weight. When I came to college I weighed 150lbs. By the time I went home for my first Christmas break I weighed 173lbs. I got bigger, but not necessarily fatter. I weighed more, but my pants fit more loosely. A steady diet and consistent physical activity are the two keys to keeping the body you want during the most hectic, unstructured time of your life. My roommate played football with me my freshman year and weighed approximately 280lbs. He decided not to play anymore and wanted to lose weight. He began to workout and dieting right. He now weighs approximately 245lbs. This is a prime example of knowing what is right to eat for you.

College students who leave home to live on campus or in an apartment face a period of transition during which the...

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...l of the energy you need to pull "all nighters" during exams and when writing nutrition papers. The more knowledge you have the better your body will feel and the healthier you will be.

Work Cited

Baker, Susannah. College cuisine makes mothers cringe. American Demographics. Sept 1991, v13 n9 p10-12.

Beerman, Kathy A. Variation in nutrient intake of college students: a comparison by student's residence. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. March 1991, v91 n3 p343-344.

Buch, Jane. Nutrition knowledge and eating practices of young female athletes. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. March 1995, v66 n3 p36-42.

Mitchell, Sandra J. Changes after taking a college nutrition course. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. July 1990, v90 n7 p955-962.

Walker, Chip. Meet the new vegetarian. American Demographics. Jan 1995, v17 n1 p9-12

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