Eat, work and play
Tuesday 7 October 2008
Whether you’re at school, college or have just started uni, eating healthily is really important. Think you’re young and it doesn’t matter? Think again!
School dinners
Ever found yourself falling asleep in afternoon lessons? It might not just be that you hate double maths; it could be because of what you ate at lunchtime. Sweet foods and caffeine give you a sudden but short lived rush of energy. When it fades you’re left far worse off than you were before – this is when you started feeling really, really sleepy.
Change is good
The School Food Trust has been changing school dinners for the better for a while now. Noticed any changes in your lunch?
The main changes you’ll have seeen include:
- Lots more fresh fruit and veg
- More protein-packed meat and fish
- Water that’s easy to find
- Bread being available every day
- Less deep-fried food
Packed lunches
If you take in a packed lunch, try to make these changes too – you’ll find you don’t fall asleep in the afternoons (at least not because you ate sugary foods), you’ll have more energy for everything and your skin will benefit from it too.
Student life
When you leave school, your diet can really suffer. Suddenly you don’t have the same routine you had at home and you have to do all your cooking for yourself. Not only that, but with classes to go to, parties to attend and friends to make – how do you find time to eat healthily as well?
Watch the video of how some students coped with the change in their diet when they left home plus some advice from a dietician on healthy eating.
Learn to cook
Learning to cook when you’re young is a really good thing to do. Imagine impressing family and potential boyfriends or girlfriends with your skills! Not only that but if you learn some basic healthy cooking techniques you will stay fit and healthy – increasing the potential of those cooking dates!
Easy, peasy
Read Sam Stern's cookblog for recipes for teens - they’re very easy!
The Real Meals book also contains classic recipes and sauces chosen after the public was asked to nominate the basic dishes every young person should learn how to cook. Check out some of the recipes.
Now that the winter is round the corner one really simple recipe you could learn is soup! To celebrate the release of High School Musical 3: Senior Year, the School Food Trust has teamed up with the Hollywood cast who have come up with some tips on healthy eating. Check the really simple recipe on the website for root veggie soup and while you're there, why not check out the Dining Hall Disco competition.
Tips for all
- Eat regular meals – don’t skip the evening meal just because you’ve found yourself in the student union after lectures.
- Try not to snack between meals, but if you do get hungry go for cereal or bread rather than chocolate bars or sweets as these will satisfy your hunger for longer
- You should also try and eat the recommended five portions of fruit or vegetables a day – that can be a tricky one! If you follow some of the simple recipes on this page it should make the task less daunting though.
- Finally, you should try to limit your fat and sugar intake because in excess these foods can be harmful.
