The Daily O’Collegian

It’s 8:15 a.m., and you have a class in 15 minutes. You can’t remember what the last thing you had to eat was or even when you ate it. Opening the mini-fridge in your dorm room isn’t helpful. All you see are a couple of half-empty Red Diamond bottles and a McDonald’s double cheeseburger with a bite taken out of it that must be more than a week old. Frustrated, you grab the cheeseburger and take a swig of the sweet tea and head out the door.

Here are some things to keep in your fridge to help avoid a situation like the one above, along with some nutritional advice from Elizabeth Lohrman, a dietician at the Seretean Wellness Center.

1. Travel-ready — Anyone can make a sandwich, and it can be made before class for lunch or a snack between classes. Lunch meat and peanut butter and jelly are both better options than a slice of honey barbecue, Canadian bacon, sausage, fried chicken or triple cheese pizza you have in your fridge.
2. Got thirst — Lohrman recommends 1 percent or skim milk, and also 100 percent juice instead of soda.She recommends that students be aware of the serving size (6 ounces). Milk and juice can be found at on-campus convenience stores, as well as any grocery store.
3. For the veggies — Most people see salad as a side dish, but it can also be a meal. Earn bonus health points if the salad includes baby carrots and other vegetables. Salad dressing takes a bit away from the nutritional value, so make sure to check the back of the bottle for content. Fat free and Light dressings are a good alternative.
4. Fruity goodness — Fresh fruit is something that all students should eat on a regular basis. Bananas, apples, pears and oranges can be found at any grocery store and are not going to break the bank or clog your arteries. Lohrman said fruit cups are also a good option for students if they need to eat in a hurry.
5. Quick and tasty — Microwaveable frozen meals are an easy way to get food in a hurry. Lohrman recommends meals from brands such as Lean Cuisine and Kashi, but less healthy options include frozen pizzas and Hot Pockets.