Overall lifestyle change difficult, reaps worthwhile benefits

We’ve all been in the dumps. We’ve all wanted to go wild and break loose.

Oftentimes, those feelings are reflected in the foods we eat.

When we’re upset about a bad test grade, some of us take a drive to get some cake batter with “the works,” or jump for some greasy spuds or a piece of beef covered in mayonnaise and cheese.

Or some might take a different approach, going down to the local bar for some drinks.

These all are choices we make in our life and they’re permissible to an extent. But shouldn’t we draw the line? 

I’ve been talking about these healthy and sometimes unusual foods all semester. Most of them are fairly common, but for some reason they still seem to slip through the cracks of typical “food vocabulary.”

I list off nutrients and vitamins with unpronounceable names that our bodies apparently “need.” Who says I need all this stuff?

The information, though, comes from health experts, and they know much more about what our bodies need than we do. It’s up to us to listen.

I thought I would take a moment to reflect on why I spend my time talking about these random foods and health choices. 

Because these foods define what it means to be healthy. What does that word really mean to us as young college students, sometimes reckless, sometimes chance-takers?

To me, it means making a conscious choice to be happy inside and out, and that means physically, emotionally and spiritually. It’s more than just what you ate for lunch, but an overall lifestyle choice.

The common misconception is that a healthy lifestyle holds people back from a happy, carefree life.

Making a lifestyle change is not about holding back, but about letting yourself fly. It all goes back to trying something new. Just as we take chances to love, to move to new places, to take a new job, we can take a chance at improving the way we eat by trying new foods and eliminating others.

It takes patience. It takes discipline. It takes an open-minded attitude.

Some might say they already eat well, and that’s good. But how many of us don’t?

Eating right seeps into other aspects of everyday living. It makes you feel great, look your best and hold confidence in your abilities in your professional and personal life.

Naturally, a good diet makes one more alert and energetic, but there’s certainly a psychological aspect, as well.

I mean, how many of us eat a Cookout burger and fries and say after, ‘Man, I’m looking good today?”

But let’s say you eat an apple, a glass of milk, some mixed nuts and a turkey sandwich.

You slide on your favorite pair of jeans, grab the shades and head out the door for the afternoon, feeling confident and positive.

I’m not saying eating right will always put you in a good mood, as there are other things in this world beyond our control that affect mood, but it certainly helps.

Granted, every calorie counts, but it’s not about the numbers. No one should have to keep track of the amount of calories, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals they consume on paper. THAT’S restricting.

But knowing what should be going into your body on a daily basis is important. In a general sense, we know what we should be eating. The media tells us, based on scientific research, the average amounts of fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products we should have daily, so we have a good idea of what we should be doing.

And since when can convenience be an excuse?

Since when is driving to the store for an apple or piece of produce you can put right in your mouth after rinsing off more inconvenient than driving over to Wendy’s or McDonald’s for a quick meal?

As far as campus foods go, healthy options are readily available that can be grabbed just as quickly as any slice of pizza or fried finger food.

It’s not about knowing all the chemical names and processes. That’s why the health experts are around.

It’s not about cooking all these natural, healthy dishes that take hours to prepare and serve. You don’t have to cook at all, really.

Cooking just mixes up monotony and changes flavors.

You just need a strong dedication to personal health and happiness. Who doesn’t want that?

Granted, some nerds like me enjoy hanging out in the kitchen, but the large majority of students here at Appalachian State University probably don’t.

It’s not about obsession, either. Take a trip to Marble Slab, but eat a salad for lunch, for example, to account for the extra calories.

Avoiding fast food advertising and those big, bright red signs shining like hunger beacons off a dark highway  is an uphill battle that will last a lifetime.

But the earlier we start, the more natural it will become and the easier it will be to remain healthy when we’re 60. It won’t be a conscious decision, but an automatic choice made without thought.

People say they’ll “do whatever they want while they’re young,” ‘cause they can “afford it.” But no one can really afford to avoid fruits and vegetables, whole grains and all those other good things in the long-run- at ANY stage of life. There’s no such thing as a magic pill that’s going to fix us when our organs give out or have trouble functioning.

Avoiding it in college will lead to deficiencies in, say, 30 or 40 years, making it much harder to bounce back when the body comes down with disease. Bodies lose vitality and strength with age.

Peruse food magazines, health websites and even major news station headlines. It’s everywhere.

Many young adults are all about trend, right?

Well join the newest trend and take charge of your health. Eat right and you’ll feel so much better emotionally and physically.

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