Fight the Fresher Flab

Another slice?

I am now going in to my third year but still fondly remember going home after my first term to be greeted by my Grandfather telling me I put on at least a stone, half on my face and half on my arse. Hmmmm… now I think about it that’s a story to be forgotten. He was right though, so this week I bring you tips on how not to gain a stone in the first six weeks.

An obvious factor of extra weight is alcohol, but in the first few weeks you’re not going to pass up an extra drink or three so we’ll focus on food. There will be many late nights ahead of you, and with late nights come the obligatory takeaway. This is a major pitfall, as you find yourself not only eating a whole extra meal a day, but twice your weight in chips and pizza. Now don’t panic, I’m not suggesting you don’t eat after a night on the lash, but if you take a DIY approach you can easily halve your intake of fat and calories. Having a bag of oven chips in the freezer that can be put in the oven (while mocking your new house mate for pulling a bit of a minger) is much better for you than a bag of chips saturated in grease and oil. This also saves you a few pennies for the next night out.

Another fantastic money saving tip is frozen pizzas, which are also much better for you and if you get down to Asda you can get 3 for £3. A bargain, I know. They also taste really really good, go for the thin and crispy base as this is the healthiest option. The added bonus of having your freezer stocked up with emergency pizzas is that it takes a lot less time than actually having a pizza delivered. It also has to be a lot healthier than eating a takeaway pizza and then reading the leaflet of the (unnamed) York takeaway to be informed ‘pizzas contain cheese substitute’.

While waiting to get back to the house to eat may be a bit too long for some of you, just consider the fact that you’re not allowed into taxis with food, and as the winter draws nearer standing in the rain with a bag of chips is not fun.

This may not seem like much of a health column so far, but this is a student health column, we all know we are lazy and drink a lot, and minor things like buying frozen chips and pizza rather than ordering from a takeaway can make a big difference. If you want to talk about mung beans you’ll have to go somewhere else.

If you get to the end of the week and crave a proper meal and vegetables get yourself down to Vanbrugh for a Sunday roast at very little cost or head into town to Evil Eye for possibly the best roast dinner ever. Mid-week, Browns in Heslington can offer a variety of sandwiches and jacket potatoes that won’t take too many pounds out of your pocket or add them to your waistline.

That's more like it

When you are heavily intoxicated, pizza and chips are acceptable, but while sober do make a concerted effort to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. I know this states the obvious but you would be surprised at some of your flatmates’ eating habits. If you want to get a quick health boost, have a look at my previous column on the top ten Superfoods, they are truly brilliant and will give you back a healthy glow in no time.

When you do eventually settle down into your new student life and begin to cook proper meals, the Fresh Chef column is full of cheap and easy but tasty recipes, because as we all know preparing your own food is the healthiest thing to do. If you’re still in doubt about what to eat or cook just ring your mum she’s missing you anyway.

Have a great Freshers’ Week, healthy or otherwise, just don’t say I didn’t try, and tune in next week for more tips on how to adapt your life in York to become a healthier student.

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