Is Your Child Heading to College or the "Real World"?

• By Beth Meirav
• My Blog

Is your child heading out into the world whether it's college or "real life"? The freshman 15 is still a real challenge. Life right now is happening so quickly that it's imperative we send our kids out of the house with the skills they need to stay healthy on their journey. A few quick tips can help them feel confident in their choices and help you feel good knowing they have the skills to stay healthy.

1.Late Night Munchies

We all remember those days...staying up until all hours and binging on pizza or cheese fries (quick shout out to Fat Harry's in New Orleans). It's impossible to stay up until 3am (studying of course!) without needing that late night fix. Beware of what you are ingesting. I just looked up the menu for my old hangout (the aforementioned Fat's) and of course it's still the same menu, however I never noticed the salads or other somewhat health(ier) options. Needing some late night protein? Advise your child to get grilled chicken on that salad instead of the fried chicken (which is what it normally comes with by the way). Sit down with them to show them how even a slight change like that will make a difference.

2.Drinking

Obviously drinking alcoholic beverages is a part of the average teens college experience. Reminding them that what they drink is equally as important to keep an eye on. It's amazing how many calories one can guzzle down without even noticing. I am not telling you to tell them not to drink (they won't listen). Reminding them to have a glass of water between alcoholic beverages though is doable. It will fill them up, keep them hydrated and send them to the bathroom enough that they will slow down whatever else they are drinking.

3.Why are they eating

Teaching your child to stop and ask why is key. Developing this habit at this point in their lives is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle as they age. Remind them to stop and ask why am I eating this _? If the answer is "I am stressed about my upcoming test" or "because I haven't found new friends yet" or "I am homesick" then we need to guide them to know where they can turn instead. The answer may be: going for a walk, calling a friend from home (or you of course), heading to the gym...

4.Cook!

What a skill this is! Teaching your child a few basics that they can prepare for themselves instead of take out or the dining hall is also very important. We actually used to have dinner parties in college. I am not sure if we were trying to be more mature than our fellow students or were just looking for an excuse to bring boys home. Regardless, we were cooking and it's a skill that stuck with me for life. When my son left for college last August I typed up a list of easy prep items for him and his roommates utilizing basic ingredients they had around the apartment. I stuck it to the fridge. Ex: eggs, flatbreads (with healthy toppings), Caesar salad topped with shrimp/chicken/burger, ground turkey over rice, etc. Basically, I wanted them to eat a few things other than Ramen or Chipolte.

Good luck to all of us parents out there sending our kids into the world! May they stay healthy and happy!