The freshman 15 may be a myth, but college students still face a lot of challenges when it comes to eating healthy. Greasy foods, especially pizzas, seem to be everywhere as clubs and other organizations try to lure students into their meetings. It is tempting, and myth or not, a student can still gain more weight than they would like if they don't watch what they eat. Just keep a couple of tips in mind and you should emerge from your freshman year no heavier than when you entered it.

• Low fat yogurt is a great food to keep in the mini fridge. Yogurts come in so many flavors that you're unlikely to get bored with them, and they can be mixed with fresh fruits or even some granola for a change of pace. Yogurts also frequently go on sale, so stock up by buying at those times.
• Trail mix, GORP or any other combination of nuts and dried fruits is a good snack to have around. The nuts are healthy and filling, while the fruits add a sweetness. A handful or two should put a stop to any candy-bar cravings you might have.

• Eat breakfast because it will not only keep you awake in your morning classes, but it will help you avoid overeating at lunch. College lunch options tend to look an awful lot like fast food, with giant burritos, burgers and fries that are ok occasionally, but not on a daily basis. Not overeating in the middle of the day will, in turn, keep you from falling into a "food coma" during afternoon classes.
• Hit the salad bar in the dining hall. Even if the salad options are fairly limited (though quite impressive at many schools), a serving of greens and other vegetables with light dressing will fill you up and help balance out your meal.
• Skip dessert. Dining halls have bad desserts unless you really, really like soggy pie crusts or Jello. And if that's the case, you're better off buying sugar-free individual Jello packs and keeping them in the fridge in your room.
• Calories come from drinks, too. Smoothies and coffee drinks, both hot and cold, can really add a lot of calories to your diet, especially if you spend a lot of time studying at coffee shops. Sip smoothies as a light meal, not alongside of one, and try to keep the really sweet drinks as occasional treats, opting for a low or nonfat vanilla latte over a rich white chocolate mocha as your morning drink.
• Low fat popcorn is a great alternative to chips when it comes to snacking in the evenings, and you can even get microwavable kettle corn to satisfy a sweet tooth. Choosing "light" brands will save you a lot of fat and calories, but you'll still get the salty taste and satisfying crunch of the corn.
• Fruit is something that students often don't get enough of because dorm rooms are not ideal places for storing fresh foods and the fruit can go bad before it is eaten. Opt for longer-lasting fruits, such as oranges and apples, or take them a few at a time from the dining hall, rather than buying in bulk at the market. If your roommate(s) like fruit, keeping out a bowl with grapes or bananas will give all of you a healthy snack.

One last thing to keep in mind is that just because something is free, doesn't mean you have to eat it. Free pizzas, sodas and snacks are great and money-saving, but if you're eating them on top of your normal diet, you're adding several hundred calories and a lot of fat that you don't need. Stick with a slice as a snack and, on top of other healthy diet decisions, the freshman 15 won't be something you'll have to worry about.