For students heading to college, there is an expectation for you to be more responsible and, more
importantly, independent.
As we start sifting through what classes we want and where we want to dorm, there is always one thing
that every incoming student is excited about: the food.
We are no longer bound to eat whatever our parents put down in front of us. Students make their own
decisions on what, when and where they want to eat, with no one guiding them to consider health value.
According to Freshman15.com website, first-year students tend to eat what tastes good, not what has
the most nutritional value. Sometimes it can be good. Other times, it can be detrimental to the student’s
health. In the back of some freshman’s heads, the freshman 15 looms.
The freshman 15 refers to the weight gain of around 15 pounds during a student’s first year of college.
College freshmen are more apt to gain weight mainly because of the drastic lifestyle change they face
while transitioning from home to college life.
In reality, many do not gain as much as 15 pounds, according to the freshman 15 site. On average,
freshmen gain around five pounds. There are cases where students haven’t gained any weight and some
who have gained more than 15 pounds in their freshman year.
Allison Hyman, a junior dietetics major, said she did not experience the freshman 15.
“The freshman 15 did not directly impact me. I actually lost weight during my first semester because I
was trying to follow a vegetarian diet at the time, and found it difficult to do so with the options available
on campus,” Hyman said.
Some of the causes of the freshman 15 include a lack of exercise, eating unhealthy foods, heavy snacking,
and drinking too much alcohol, according to the Freshman 15 website. The irresistible choices from the
dining hall and retail side can also entice first year students, which may lead to overeating.
Chartwells, Buffalo State’s on-campus dining facility, actively takes part in helping and encouraging
students to eat healthy while staying here.
Manny Lezama, senior director of dining services, said he wants to help students eat better on campus.
“We want them to come to us. Whatever we serve, we have to make it healthy. We are here to assist
them,” Lezama said.
One of the things that Chartwells has implemented is listing the nutritional facts on each of the foods that
are served.
Lezama said it makes it very easy for students to keep track of what they are eating.
“[We want students] to be very conscious of what they’re putting in their body,” Lezama said.
Chartwells also has a variety of programs and informational resources for students to use, such as Balance
U, which focuses on different topics all year pertaining to health on campus. Some of the topics include
how to feed your body on the inside and how to eat and keep healthy during finals week.
There is also a link directing students to ChooseMyPlate.org, where students have the option to create
their own virtual plates with healthy foods, and tips and recipes for students to create on their own.
Tackling the freshman 15 might be a challenge, but there are many creative activities that students can
partake in on and off campus to fight back the pounds.
Students can take the opportunity to visit the fitness center at Campus West. Membership is covered by
the Student Activity Fee – all you need is your ID.
If you feel uncomfortable going by yourself, ask a friend or even your roommate to tag along with you.
Making your dorm room a mini exercise room and using common household items as equipment can be a
fun and creative way to keep the pounds off.
Hyman suggests that students take the chance to get off campus and take a stroll on Elmwood Avenue or
along the Scajaquada Trail, a walking path to the east of campus. Delaware Park is also a great place to
walk or jog.
Taking it a step further. Try out for a sport or get involved in intramural or club sports here on campus.
As far as some tips for healthy eating, try not to skip out on eating breakfast. It provides you the energy
that you need to get through the day.
According to Discovery Health, it’s better not to eat high calorie foods, like doughnuts and breakfast
sandwiches, for breakfast. Instead, pick up whole grain and high calcium foods such as yogurt, whole
grain breads, and milk. If you’re a coffee drinker, skip out on the extra flavorings and take your coffee
black.
Some other tips for healthy eating are to avoid eating fried foods, eat more vegetables, and substitute
water or tea for soda.
Of course, you can splurge every once in a while, but eating and drinking in moderation is key to keeping
the weight down.
As much as we want to shut down the idea of the freshman 15, students should be aware of the possible
health concerns that could come up during their freshman year.
“We think of the freshman 15 as a laughable matter, but it can be really difficult to lose those 15 pounds
once you have them. If we talk more about exercise, such as a goal of 10,000 steps per day, portion size
and half plate healthy, it will empower students to do these things for themselves,” Hyman said.
Tyeisha Prior can be reached by email at prior.record@live.com.