College Eating Habits Healthy Living Lifestyle habits established during the college years can have an enormous impact on health and well being, as well as the risk for developing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Adapting to the stress, hectic schedule, emotional challenges, new found freedoms, numerous choices, as well as changes in physical activity and eating patterns certainly play large roles in determining our fate. Researchers are studying undergraduates at Tufts University to assess their current lifestyle choices, educate them, influence their selection of the better food choices available to them on campus, and hopefully reduce their risk by encouraging healthier habits.

According to a preliminary report of 1,800 students, the Tufts Longitudinal Health Study shows:

• 59% report that their diet has deteriorated since attending college.
• While most students do not gain the “freshman 15,” college men and women gained and average of 5.5 and 4.5 pounds respectively during their freshman year. • 66% of freshmen consume less than the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
• More than 60% exceed recommended intakes of total and saturated fat • 50% don’t get enough fiber.
• 40% of college women perceive that they are overweight.
• 41% report a decline in their feeling of happiness during their freshman year.
• Students who exercise at least 3 times a week were more likely to report a better state of physical and mental health and higher levels of happiness, and were more likely to eat better.

Tufts should be applauded for their efforts in identifying students at risk and eventually offering programs campus-wide to enhance their overall health and well being. These same findings likely apply to many of us. We are overstressed, overworked, have hectic schedules, don’t eat well, are overweight, lack a sense of well being, have made our health and wellness a low priority, and are at risk for developing a nasty illness. We’re bombarded with conflicting information about nutrition, and we’re not sure what it means to “eat healthy.” PurFoods offers a solution—convenience, great tasting, balanced meals. Also, by providing you with examples of what healthy meals look like, our hope is that you will learn and make good choices. It’s never too soon, nor is it ever too late, to begin healthy habits. Invest in yourself, and invest wisely.