¶ … Freshman Fifteen
Dear Editor:
What is the "freshman fifteen?" It's the fifteen pounds or more that many freshman gain during their first year away from college and their first year living away from home. After spending more than a month on campus, it is easy to see why the freshman fifteen is such a pervasive problem.
One of the problems when freshman leave home is the lack of parental supervision. Suddenly, we can do what we want, when we want, and it's heady stuff. We can eat what we want, too, and we usually do. Part of college life is learning about self-control, and dining is just one of the areas we need to control as we begin our new, adult lives. However, it's not all about freedom and choice as we make our way through our freshman year, there are some pretty bewildering options on and off campus that complicate the dining out choices.
Walking around the campus, it hits me, there's food everywhere. From snack vending machines in...
They are designed for speed and ease of eating on the run, which we students tend to do a lot. It's much easier to grab a burger and gobble it down between classes on the run, than it is to juggle a salad. French fries take a lot less effort than a rice bowl or a Subway sandwich. Sure, we can make our own choices, but often, we opt for what's easiest, and it may not be the healthiest, and so, we pack on the pounds.
Another problem is dorm living. Many students who live in the dorms have no idea how to cook, and with the limited space and kitchen area, there aren't so many options for dorm dwellers. Microwaves are a must, but there's only so much you can microwave before you go nuts.…
