Food for Thought
By Malina Gavris
The start of the spring semester starts, ironically, not in the spring. With winter blues and grogginess from a well-spent holiday season, it can be hard to get back on track with school. As students adjust yet again to new classes, professors and activities, it can be easy to fall into a rut and stop prioritizing mental and physical health. Thankfully, there is one scientifically proven remedy for overall well-being that won’t break the bank or have you listening to random TikTok gurus about “miracle supplements.” This remedy is actually quite simple and can be found at your nearest grocery store.
We all need food to keep our bodies running, and what you consume can actually have a profound impact on your body and mind. According to the CDC, a healthy diet can strengthen your bones, improve your vision, and even boost your immunity. Additionally, foods that are high in antioxidants and vitamins can protect your brain from oxidative stress and improve your concentration, cognition and mood. 
Even though many of us already know this, it’s easy for college students to forget or disregard this information as we reach for fast food and processed snacks that are quickly available. The problem is that there is a lot of misinformation surrounding “healthy eating” — you don’t have to spend hours cooking up recipes or buy pricey organic foods to have a balanced diet. Sometimes, just doing simple swaps or having a repertoire of basic recipes can transform your nutrition levels. Great options to keep in mind include sliced bananas with peanut butter, quick oats, homemade wraps and protein smoothies. Whenever possible, remember to have servings of fruits and vegetables everyday; canned or dried will do just fine.
Shopping for “healthier” items might sound expensive but that’s not always the case. You’ll probably want to skip Whole Foods, but stores like Kroger, Lidl and Aldi offer tons of fresh produce and yummy products at very low prices. Not to mention, these stores frequently offer promotions, so you can rotate your shopping list to purchase items when they’re on sale. VCU’s own Ram Pantry is another great place to stock up on food. According to VCU, Ram Pantry’s goal is to do their part to “ensure that no student in the VCU community goes hungry and that every student has access to nutritious food.” The pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and more information can be found on their website.
With the first month of the semester complete, it’s the perfect time to get back on track with all of our goals. By boosting your health, you can feel your best to succeed both academically and personally, and improving your nutrition is a great start. They weren’t lying when they said “food for thought.”
Photo courtesy of VCU Ram Pantry