Healthy living is something that is encouraged on campus.  This encompasses eating right along with staying active.  However, these strategies can become at risk when there is a higher consumption of fatty, unhealthy foods.
Of course, students stereotypically experience weight gain during college, but the reality is that it is not necessarily what is eaten in the cafeteria that can affect a person.  The Center for Science in the Public Interest recently published a list of the top 10 foods to avoid due to their high fat or sodium content.
One of the foods on the list that stands out for college students is Campbell’s Regular Condensed Soup.  This item stands at number three on the list of the top 10 foods to avoid because of its ridiculously high sodium content.  There is over 2000mg in one can of soup, which is 500mg over what a person needs in a day, making it harmful to a person’s health.
Another item on the list that stands at a high risk is the Five Guys Hamburger.  This burger stands currently at around 700 calories, thus making it richer than a McDonald’s Big Mac.  These sorts of fast foods have always been known to be unhealthy, but no one seems to want to know just how bad they can be for a person.
Aaron Benzine, an Athletic Training Major, said, “I couldn’t believe that the Five Guys Burger was so bad for you.  The sodium and calorie content is way too high.”
These types of foods are bad for consumption; however, it is also understood that people enjoy the occasional treat after a stressful day or an accomplishment.  The typical slogan to accompany this line of reasoning has always been: enjoy in moderation, which is still very true to this day.
Zach Trocinski, an Information Systems Major, stated, “I try to eat healthy, buying most of my food at the grocery store and the occasional snack, but I only get fast food once in a great while.”  Buying one’s own food at the grocery store seems to be a great way to manage consumption, as it is not supplied by the school, it forces a person to think long and hard how to spend money, and on what specific items.
When it comes to healthy consumption it is important to consider good strategies to stay on track.  One example that Benzine provided was, “I try to eat foods with relatively high calorie content to stay active, but I also avoid high sodium concentrations and empty calories.”
Eating healthy is always beneficial in the long run to an individual’s health, but it is also important to know how to plan these foods to stay on track.  With UW-La Crosse being known as such an active campus, being informed of what is good to eat is a key element to a healthy and active lifestyle.  Therefore, reading nutrition labels and staying informed is a great way to stay on top of one’s health.  If anything, remember the old saying: you are what you eat.