Everyone must have at some point come across the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ Appearing at first during the 19th century, this English proverb hoped to advocate the consumption of apples amidst the public, which in turn would result in healthier diets and healthier individuals. Since then, many studies have proven that aside from being the most widely consumed fruit globally (our little star), eating an apple a day can contribute to improving one’s gut and brain health. Which is the important part. With term just freshly started, and many first years (and later years as well) still roaming around the campus in panicked confusion, it’s best to keep stress levels to a minimum outside of lecture settings. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a healthy brain and, alongside other methods such as exercise, a well-balanced diet has been proven to be successful in doing just that.
Now that a lot of new students are discovering the joys of independence, especially if moving away for university was your real first adventure away from home, it’s important to note down a few points of advice when it comes to surviving through the school year. Amidst socialising, studying, and trying to figure out the best way to do laundry, remember to also keep an eye on both your physical and mental health. One of the contributing factors that will help you do that will be a variety of healthy foods, packed full of proteins and nutrients undiscovered to most people that will eat them on a regular basis.
Understandably, as uni students most of us will have restricted budgets when it comes to shopping for food. In order to save money and energy, it’s easy to grab a hold of a few packs of instant ramen, or the cheapest pasta and tomato sauce for a makeshift bolognaise. However, one of the most crucial aspects of every meal is protein, as it contains an amino acid that allows your brain to regulate your mood. Therefore, if you are planning on making a pasta dish, make sure to include some meat or tofu. This way, you’ll make your body happy and prevent side effects such as fatigue and crankiness. Chicken, as the fan favourite amongst most students, does an excellent job of providing a source of protein, but there are a few others if you are looking for variation. If you are willing to splurge a little bit of money for the week, then some smoked salmon is another brilliant choice. Typically, I enjoy mine on a bagel with some cream cheese and cucumber. However, if the budget is tight, then eggs, soybeans, nuts, and seeds can also be put into a variety of recipes. Eggs and flax seeds especially are said to be crucial for the proper function of the brain and the nervous system.
The idea is to put in the effort of taking care of your body. Moving into student accommodation can be very daunting at first, and it’s shocking at times to open the fridge to find mismatched products and a head empty of ideas of how to corporate them into a meal. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to make meal plans and shop intentionally. I have the worst habit of going food shopping without any sort of plans. Don’t be like me, it just means you’ll be standing in the vegetable aisle for a good three minutes, debating whether or not you eat enough tomatoes weekly to buy a family sized pack (the answer is normally yes anyways). It’s okay to slow down and take your take to make a shopping list. With the added benefit of having the satisfaction to slowly tick things off the list as you shop, this also prevents the stress of aimlessly walking around Lidl’s and wondering if you are forgetting to buy an important ingredient.
But speaking of proteins and intentional shopping, the other key aspect of a balanced diet involves complex carbohydrates. These are known to supply the body with energy throughout the day because of their nutritional value, alongside providing the brain with the required glucose that it craves. To put it simply, they act like healthy sugars for the mind. Vegetables such as sweet potatoes, peas, and corn are some of the popular options within this category. However, lentils are also complex carbs, and they could be very easily made into a delicious lentil soup that will chase away the rapidly approaching frosty weather. And even if you don’t have a clue how to go about making lentil soup, then there is no need to worry, as you’re bound to come across plenty of easy recipes online. I would say it’s good to get in the habit of cooking for yourself. From a mental perspective, it can be quite a therapeutic experience, since cooking for oneself has the means of putting effort towards satisfying the body’s urges. It promotes a healthy mindset of reminding yourself that you deserve the energy required to create a healthy meal.
To sum everything up, I believe that food is supposed to bring a sense of joy for the body, and it’s good to build a healthy mindset around maintaining a balanced diet right from the start. Don’t force yourself to be continuously living off of instant ramen for days on end, and instead take a moment to decide what foods should make an appearance in your fridge more often. Although, that being said, all of us will have our cheat days and it’s okay to enjoy some unhealthy food once in a while too. As long as it keeps the brain happy. And I hope that everyone can find the time to reach for that apple once a day, as I’m sure that it will help to keep your doctor far away.
