Welcome back students! We hope that you had the best summer imaginable. Whether you spent your time going on adventures, relaxing, spending time with family and friends, or even taking some summer courses in order to get a head start to the school year, we’re happy to have you back! Or, for some of you, welcome to the beginning of your college experience. We’ve got to admit, here at Upper Crust Food Service, we’ve missed those of you that have been gone and we’re excited about this coming year and all of the great meals and snacks that our college food service company will be providing you and your sorority sisters or fraternity brothers.
In this post, we’ll be talking about something that the majority of college students struggle with and how we can help. No, unfortunately we can’t help you ace your exams, but we can help you to eat better! We’ll discuss a few reasons why eating well can be so difficult in college as well as offer you some easy tips to get on track. Luckily, when you have one of our sorority and fraternity chefs on your side, eating a nutritional diet is incredibly easy. If your chapter house is currently lacking reliable kitchen and food services and you would like to remedy the situation, then give us a call as soon as possible and we’ll be there! Even if Upper Crust isn’t currently at your campus, we would love to change that. We serve chapter houses all across the country and would love to include yours.
Convenience
Let’s start with one of the biggest reasons why it can be difficult to eat healthy, not only for college students, but for all of us. In this day and age, highly-processed and fatty foods seem to be available at every corner that we turn. From the abundance of fast-food restaurants, to being in a hurry and needing something to eat as quick as possible before your next class, convenience is a major culprit in unhealthy diets. One easy way to combat this is to prepare food the night before or in the morning that you can have ready when hunger strikes. From healthy snacks like fruits or nuts to make sure that you had a good meal before your busy schedule prevents you from getting the nutrition you need. Just make sure to avoid fast foods or gas station snacks as much as possible. Sure, it’s okay from time to time, just don’t make it a habit.
Cost
Along with convenience, cost also plays a huge factor for college students developing a less than ideal diet. Most students are on a pretty strict budget, and eating healthy always seems to come with the thought that it has to be expensive. Therefore, many decide to opt for the dollar menu burger or Tuesday taco deal. The truth is, you just have to be cognizant of the groceries that you are buying. There are so many delicious foods out there that are not only nutritious but don’t hurt your bank account either. Don’t fall into the assumption that the only affordable foods are processed and fatty. Do some simple research and make sure the next time that you go to the grocery store that you add some cheap and healthy snacks into your cart.
New Experiences
College truly is a learning experience. Of course, you will be learning a lot through textbooks, lectures, and the like, but you’ll also be learning life lessons and skills throughout the way. For a good amount of you, this includes following a nutritional diet. This isn’t just an issue for college students, but people of all ages as well. Especially, since there seems to be a new ‘fad’ diet coming out nearly every week. But eating well isn’t as complicated as you may imagine. You just need to make sure that you are getting the proper amount of protein, nutrients, and vitamins and avoid fatty foods or sugary treats. Not to say that you shouldn’t have dessert, we love indulging in a scrumptious treat after a meal! Just do so in moderation. Also, talk to nutrition experts or, once again, just do a little bit of research on your own.
Late Nights
Late nights are inevitable during your college years. No matter how much studying you do during the day or how detailed your notes from class may be, expect to find yourself spending more than a few nights cramming for an exam or getting the final pieces in place for an important project. During these late-night sessions, it’s common to have some snacks to get you through the night. But before you know it, you’ve gone through a whole family-sized bag of potato chips and multiple chocolate bars. Don’t worry, your campus chef from Upper Crust will be able to provide you with some tasty snacks to help you burn the late-night oil that are also good for your body, health, and your mind!
Stress
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, stress eating is a real thing! And unfortunately, college is known to get a little bit stressful from time to time. From trying to keep all of your classes organized while also spending time with your chapter house and hopefully finding some time to relax, you might feel a little bit pressured and frazzled. Oftentimes, this leads to snacking, even if you’re not hungry! Remember to keep yourself calm and level-headed, and don’t let the stress get to you!
Temptation
Yes, you will encounter unhealthy temptations while you’re in college. One will come in the ubiquitous amount of pizza that you’ll see. Pizza is great and one of our favorite foods, but your body will not necessarily be happy if you have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (no matter what the Bagel Bites theme song may tell you). Once again, make sure that you are eating your pizza in moderation because it is not the most nutritious food if you’re looking to follow a healthy diet. The other temptation that you are likely to experience is alcohol. We promise that your mind and body will be so much happier if you resist and you’ll still have a great time with your friends and fellow Greek house members!
How We Can Help
While this might seem like a lot to digest, don’t worry! When you have Upper Crust on your side, you won’t have to worry about what meal you’ll be having next or if you should stop by that fast food restaurant on your way to class. We are proud to provide the houses that we serve with three mouth-watering meals a day made from fresh and healthy ingredients. And we don’t stop there! We will also serve you with the perfect snacks for your study sessions, and even cater to your special events such as tailgates, fundraisers, parent’s weekend, and so much more! If your stomach starts rumbling, you can count on us to provide you with the food that you need! If you would like more information about our college food service company or are currently in need of kitchen solutions for your chapter house, then what are you waiting for? Give Upper Crust Food Service a call today.
