Eating healthier in college?

College Life
1

Currently, I live in an off campus apartment with all the cooking amenities needed to make almost any meal. I try to eat balanced meals with vegetables, meat, and carbs. However, recently I have been eating quite a bit of different pasta dishes because it’s cheap, tasty, filling and easy to make. However, I have a history of high blood sugar; I’m on the borderline of normal and pre-diabetic. I have cut most sugars ie. sweets and soda/juices but I’m worried that the pasta will keep my glucose levels up.

What are diet suggestions you have to replace pasta but are also relatively easy to make? Cost is not too much of a factor. Thanks!

Note: I do understand that exercise is important to, but this question is strictly with regards to diet.

2

Spiralize vegetables and use that instead of pasta. (example zucchini) Here is a video that shows 10 vegetables you can spiralize.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gorWlpQVks

3

@raclut I’ve never actually heard of that before. Looks interesting. Thanks!

4

I think the vegetable pasta is an outstanding idea.

My carbs are typically the yams, sweet potatoes and squash variety.

5

Online you can find recipes for cauliflower pizza crust instead of using dough. I bake it in the oven and then cover it with seasonings, chopped garlic, and olive oil. After that I put a layer of spinach leaves covered with chopped grape or Campari tomatoes and season with a bit of lemon pepper. I put a bit of shredded cheese over it and then cover it with chopped red onions and red, green, orange, yellow peppers. My objective is to get a variety of vegetables into my daily meals. On Sundays I do all the chopping and put everything into storage containers so that when I have to cook I am not spending time chopping veggies. I am trying to make a lifestyle change by incorporating fruits of vegetables of different colors.

They also sell pasta made out of chickpea flour in the grocery store that you could try out. I also bought a nutribullet to make different combination of fruit and vegetable smoothies.

6

Look up recipes for sheet pan dinners. Quick and easy. Many are protein and veggie based.

Salads: Look up “mason jar salad” or “salad in a jar” if you want to prepare ahead of time so it’s quick to eat when you need it.

Fish is healthy and quick to eat. Do you like salmon? We eat it at least once a week.

If you want to steer clear of carbs, look at paleo recipes.

Broth based soups are healthy and you can make ahead.

Many stores now sell the veggies already spiralized.

7

Thank you all for your suggestions! Very much appreciated.

8

Any vegetables cut up or spiralized at the grocery are most likely going to cost more.

You can get a spiralizer for $20 at BB&B (with a $5 off coupon even cheaper)
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/veggetti-reg-pro-tabletop-spiralizer-vegetable-cutter/1044113797?Keyword=spiralizer

9

Simple salads with lettuce, your favorite veggies and any cooked meat are quick and filling.

10

Stir frying (can use a regular pan – use just a little oil and if you want a little soy sauce) is a quick and easy way to incorporate vegetables and protein in a meal. If you want carbs you can make a little rice as well.