Skip to main content

4 Tips To Avoid Stress Eating During Finals

It's the week of finals and suddenly there's so much to do and not enough time to do it. With projects, papers, studying, all-nighters, and early wake-ups, indulging in your favorite (and maybe not so good for you) foods seems like the perfect way to relieve some of that finals stress. When we turn to food to relive stress, it tends to be food that comforts us and makes us feel good, which a lot of times is a carton of ice cream, a slice of pizza, or your favorite piece (or bag) of candy. The truth is, finals may not only be a stressful time of the semester but a time where weight gain occurs in stressed out students. The combination of a large amount of sedentary time studying and test taking, little to no exercise, and stressful or late-night eating is a recipe for weight gain. Another truth is that we may not even recognize that we are in fact stress eating due to being completely preoccupied. So how do we avoid this stress eating before it takes place? Here are four tips to help you avoid stress eating during this semester's finals

Stock up on healthy foods and snacks
You may argue that you need to eat a little more to keep your body and brain fueled during the crazy whirlwind that is finals, and this can be very important! If you're going to eat and snack while you're working hard and stressing out a bit, make sure you're eating lots of nutrient dense foods. Stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole wheat crackers and hummus, any foods that will give you more vitamins and minerals per calorie that will keep your mind fueled and your body feeling good.

Drink more water
Drinking lots of water throughout the day will help curb an appetite and help keep you full without adding extra calories. If you find yourself still craving something more, drink tea. Tea will have the same effect, keeping you full and curbing your appetite while satisfying that craving for something "yummy." Tea also offers a great deal of antioxidants which is a powerful brain fuel!

Add a little exercise
Physical activity is one of the greatest stress relievers there is. If you feel those food cravings coming on and it's not time for a meal, take a break and get some exercise! Go for a quick walk around campus, do some push ups and squats, make a quick 20 minute gym break -- whatever type of physical activity suits your fancy! Exercising in the midst of finals will not only relieve your stress but it will also give you more energy to keep you going, give you a better nights sleep and improve your mood.

Find a food-less place to get work done
If you can, pick a study haven that is far, far away from food. Instead of doing your work at home, in your dorm room, or the dining halls, find a spot deep within the library or in an empty classroom. This way you will not have food tempting you at all times or at your disposal when it's time for a break. If you want a snack while doing your school work, bring a healthy portion of fruit or vegetables with you to your secluded work area so you will not over eat or eat something "unhealthy."

Meet with Northeastern Dining's nutrition assistant Meghann Jurkowski TODAY, Monday, December 9, at International Village from 12:00 to 1:00 where she will be available to answer any of your healthy eating questions as well as sampling some healthy sliced apple nachos. Hope to see you there!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SNOW DAY! And 4 Snowy Food Facts

Hello Huskies! Hope you've been staying safe and warm while enjoying your snow day. Changes to our hours of operation are being posted to our website as well as our Twitter and Facebook pages so be sure to check those out for updates throughout this snowy Tuesday. With the serious info out of the way, we're here to have some fun too. In between Netflix binge-watching sessions, how about some interesting snow-related food facts? 1. Hostess Sno Balls are actually upside-down Hostess CupCakes You know them as those pink or white shredded coconut and marshmallow delicacies, but since the 1950s, the inner cakes have been manufactured exactly the same way as their chocolate icing-covered CupCake counterparts. 1 2. Canada is much more than snow Our snowy neighbor to the north is actually the 5th largest agricultural exporter in the world. Canada also produces 85% of the world's maple syrup so whether you enjoy it on French toast at brunch or spaghetti during Christmas, there...
Post a Comment
Read more

Healthy Alternatives While Celebrating Culinary Diversity

with campus executive chef Tom Barton Our latest Menus of Change principle is "Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Discovery" and over the next few weeks our residential dining halls will be featuring menu items that celebrate the cultural diversity of our associates. As I was reviewing recipes in preparation for these events at both International Village and Stetson, it occurred to me that some of the ingredients in the traditional recipes could be swapped out for healthier alternatives while also remaining faithful to tradition. Here are some examples of ways to make recipes even a little bit healthier (which means you can enjoy them even more often!): Instead of using butter why not use a fat free margarine? Canola, safflower or olive oils could also be substituted Rather than using whole milk try a skim, evaporated skim or even plain nonfat yogurt can be used Instead of using whole milk cheeses, look for ones that are made with part skim Low fat or fat free sour cream can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Calories on the menu

You may have noticed that restaurant menus have a new look. Along with price and description, you’ll now see calories listed on menus at restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters and bakeries, among others. Why put calories on menus? Most of us eat about a third of our meals away from home. With that in mind, legislation was passed as part of the Affordable Care Act requiring calorie-posting on restaurant menus. The goal of the legislation was to make it easier for us to make informed choices about what and how much we eat while we are out. Where you will and won’t see calories: In general, we can expect to see calories on food and drinks that are served regularly at 20 or more locations under the same brand. This includes just about anywhere that serves food ready to eat, such as sports stadiums, coffee shops and restaurants. Chefs’ specials, seasonal dishes or items offered only for a limited time, however, will not be required to have calories listed. Independent restaurants with on...
Post a Comment
Read more