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February Healthy Habit

Give yourself enough time to eat! 

Taking time to eat is very important!  Not only will you feel less stressed, but your body will feel better as well. 

Good Digestion

Do you think you could improve your digestion?  Proper digestion is the key to a healthy body.  If you don’t digest your food correctly, you may get an upset stomach, diarrhea, bad gas, or even long term effects.  In order to digest your food properly, you need to eat slowly and regularly.

  • Don’t overeat!  Eat sensible portions so you won’t add stress to the digestive system
  • Chew each mouthful slowly and well before swallowing; smaller pieces are much easier to digest than big pieces
  • Relax while you eat to assist the nerves of the digestive system
  • Eat around the same time every day; it prepares the digestive system for regular meals
  • Try not to skip meals; it can become a bad routine

Prepare ahead of time

Have you ever thought about making your food the day before?  Preparing meals ahead will help you have enough time to eat!  Making your food the day before might help you to make healthier choices.  Cut up fruit and steam some vegetables so your food will be a healthy variety.  When you don’t have to worry about cooking right then, you will be able to take the proper amount of time to eat and digest.

Dining Halls

Do you ever find yourself running to the dining hall for a 10 or 15-minute meal before class?  When you do this, you usually choose the fast food things such as pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, etc.  They might be easy treats, but that doesn’t mean they’re good for your body.  Try really hard to give yourself a good 45 minutes or hour to eat.  This way you will still be able to talk with your friends, but you will also be able to take the time you need to look for healthier choices such as the salad and fruit bar. 

Pay attention to the hours of each dining place.  Try not to eat right before it closes unless you can’t help it.  The “closing up” choices won’t be as healthy; some of the food such as the salad bar might already be packed up.  Go early with your friends, and encourage each other to make healthier choices.  Having the extra time to eat will help you digest your food and be less stressed; not to mention, you won’t have to talk with food in your mouth because you can take your time!