Health & Wellness in College

Written by Abby Gaudreau

Junior year 2021

We’ve all heard of the Freshman 15, but what if there are ways to combat that stigma right out of the gate? From personal experience, I wish I had developed healthier habits going into college, rather than waiting until I was on my way out to practice a healthier lifestyle. From drinking every weekend, to midnight munchies, to every social gathering being surrounded by food—it can be hard (trust me, as a HUGE foodie, I get it). But it only takes a few simple tips and tricks to ensure you're living your best college life while still creating a healthy lifestyle that you can practice in and out of school.

Fitness Centers

Most campuses will have a fitness center that is built into your tuition fees for you to use while you’re in school. This is something I wish I took advantage of before my last year in school because these gyms are actually really nice—and convenient. Because it's right on campus, you can fit in a workout before, after, or even between classes. Some campus fitness centers even offer fitness classes for you to take if you don’t know where to start in a weight room; take a Zumba class with friends or enjoy some meditative yoga. Whatever your interest is, you can find it.

Wellness Classes

I know there are degrees in fields like nutrition and exercise science, but I also know most majors require you to take extra classes to fill other requirements. Use those free credits to take a wellness class and learn more about health, fitness, and nutrition. Whether it’s strength and conditioning, human nutrition, sports nutrition, or food sciences, you can take the initiative to learn something that isn’t in your degree but can help you in the grand scheme of life.

Instilling Healthy Habits from Day 1

This sounds pretty self-explanatory, but I also know not everyone will do this (I know I didn’t). Set a workout schedule for yourself. Whether it’s 3 days a week or 6 days a week, choose a schedule you know you’ll stick to, even when school gets hard. Keep healthy snacks on hand. Most college students either have a meal plan on campus or, when they are off campus, buy what is cheap and easy for meals. Every once in a while, this is fine (I was a broke college kid once too, so I understand the struggle), but create the habit of having a healthier option in your routine. That way, when you do go out with friends, it’s more rewarding and enjoyable than just another bad meal. Some things to add to your grocery list include lean meats, leafy greens, jasmine rice, fruits, low-sugar condiments, and healthy snacks like high-quality protein bars, nuts, applesauce pouches, and, if you feel like it, a quality protein powder. Lastly, stay hydrated. I’m sure you hear this enough, but it is so true. Staying hydrated with water and electrolytes will help flush your system, keep everything functioning properly, and keep you feeling your best.

Closing Thoughts

I hope if you learned anything from this, it’s that it is okay to be a college kid and have fun, but it’s also not a bad idea to set some healthy habits for yourself from the beginning so you can avoid the pitfalls I encountered.

Current 2025, after 2 fitness shows and in a health phase