Eating healthy at the beach

Lean Cuisine is one of many options students choose over fatty foods for lunch at Cal State Long Beach. Photo by Joseph Apodaca

Finding the perfect healthy meal can often be difficult when in school, but luckily for CSULB students, the potential options are limitless.

Even though a majority of students may tend to gravitate towards the hamburger and French fries during their breaks, many students are concerned about maintaining a healthy diet and look to certain places for a well-balanced lunch. With a variety of options to satisfy any cravings, students have learned what to choose and what to avoid when they are looking to eat healthy.

“I’ll go to the Nugget or the Outpost if I want a salad," said nursing major Bianca Gutierrez. "At Subway, you can make your own custom healthy sandwich. I won’t go to fast food places like Panda Express, Taco Bell, or Carl’s Jr. Even the sandwiches that are already pre-made that they sell in the shops like The Beach Hut will work.”

While the options are there for students to eat healthier, fast food options are often less expensive and more readily available on campus and off campus. While it is okay for students to indulge every once in a while, many find themselves in the same routine of grabbing fast food over a nutritious meal in between studying and working. Even if you are relatively fit, switching from fast food to healthy food can make a huge difference in your daily life.

“You just feel a lot better and have more energy and you notice changes in things like your complexion,” said Gutierrez. “Once you eat healthier, you have this mentality that you want to sustain your health and do things to better yourself.”

For students looking to make a healthy diet switch, one of the best places to look is your local grocery store. Buying lunch every day at school can become costly, so alternating between buying lunches and bringing lunches from home can not only save you money but ensure you are eating healthier. Grocery stores are packed with healthy options to choose from; the only difficult task is what to choose.

“Whole grain products like oat bars that are low in sugar and high in fiber are good in the morning with yogurt and string cheese is a great snack to keep in your bag,” said Gutierrez. “To-go lunches like Smart Ones and Lean Cuisine that you can heat up are good options too. It all comes down to people’s preference but eating healthy is super important because you don’t have to worry about added health problems on top of everything at school.”