Healthy Eating During The University Years

University life can bring countless changes and challenges, but for many students, a healthy diet is not high on the list of priorities. As much as parents would like to see otherwise, students often fall into habits such as skipping meals to save money, eating fast food every day to save time, and consuming far too much caffeine. These habits can negatively affect their health and even their academic success.

Poor eating habits can have both short- and long-term consequences for university students. For example, studies have shown that students who sleep late and skip breakfast have lower grade point averages than those who rise earlier and have something to eat in the morning. Eating breakfast has also been linked to improved memory and concentration in students.

Challenges faced by students in maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Stress caused by a heavy workload, pressure to succeed and competing priorities can affect appetite and eating habits in many university-age students. Some students start to skip meals or just drink coffee instead of eating. Skipping meals can lead to poor concentration, fainting, dizzy spells, and in the long term, nutritional deficiencies. In some students these may be the signs of a more serious ongoing eating disorder, requiring additional health and counselling services, or they may be simply a shorter-term reaction to anxiety and stress.

We encourage all students to fuel their bodies and brains with vegetables and fruits, whole-grains, calcium-rich milk or soy products, and lean meats or beans. Choosing nutritious foods and eating regular meals and snacks is more important than ever during the years at university.

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