"dorm" news and stories

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.

While some may have gained some weight during their first year at college, new studies are showing that the phenomenon known as the "freshman 15" doesn't have much more than word-of-mouth behind it. The term first appeared in the mid 1980s in the Chicago Tribune, where the fact that it was a large enough number to inspire worry, but not so large that it seemed unbelievable, kept it going. So will students entering college really gain 15-pounds in their first year? A study from Rutgers that was published last month showed that 25% of students (Rutgers students) lost weight during their first year, while 75% gained an average of 7 pounds. "Nobody gained 15 pounds," said the professor behind the study.

Of course, some students will go overboard and binge on pizza and vending machine snacks without any supervision but their own, but many students will not. College eating halls are offering healthier options all the time, so students are more likely to see organic, vegetarian and vegan options, along with lean meats and plenty of healthy veggies, rather than just greasy, fried fare.

Perhaps the "freshman 15" is really just a reminder to try to keep kids on a healthier track and, if so, perhaps the fact that most students aren't seeing that kind of weight gain is reason enough to keep it going.

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As a full-time college student, I rarely had the time to devote a whole day to a meal. When I successfully defended my thesis a month before graduation, I decided that it was time to make dinner.

Throughout my four years at a small liberal arts school in Florida, I tried not to let the restrictions of dorm life hinder my ability to cook well. When I was getting ready to start school, I called the residence life office to see if my dorm would have any cooking facilities. They told me that the rooms had no facilities, but that there were communal kitchens in each of the dorm complexes. Whomever I spoke with assured me that I would be put in a room near one of these kitchens. Not totally satisfied with the prospect of leaving my room to make a grilled cheese sandwich, I e-mailed residence life and asked what their policy was on students using cooking equipment-hot plates, toasters, microwaves-in their rooms. The reply told me that microwaves were just fine, but that other electric cooking equipment, such as toaster ovens, fell under the category of "Oh, god no!"

[Photo: Nick Vagnoni]