Davidson provides a wide variety of dining, café, and eating house choices. These choices, coupled with the challenges of a college schedule, are a mixed blessing for many students. College and university studies have shown that freshmen gain approximately ten pounds during their first year at college.

A good nutrition plan can help you avoid the "freshman ten." Now is the time to reinforce or develop healthy choices that will sustain you during, and after, the college years. The following tips can help:

1) Rest.
Try to get at least 7-8 hours rest each night.

2) Stick to the basics in your food selection.
Limit fried foods; alternate regular menu items with vegetarian menu; arrange your plate with a food from each of the food groups; include a tossed salad with light dressings; opt for frozen yogurt, fresh fruit or other light dessert; and drink water with your meals. Take a walk by the dining service line or café to survey the best food choices.

3) Choose healthy snacks.
Try to consume meals or snacks within three- to four-hour intervals or as hunger cues your appetite. Your brain needs adequate glucose stores for brain and body function

4) Don't forget tip #3 for late-night snacking.
Try to consume nourishing late-night snacks, e.g. peanut butter and fruit spread on whole-wheat crackers, popcorn, water packed tuna, fresh fruit or canned fruit, granola bars.

5) Experience new foods and flavors.
Expand your palette by trying new regional or ethnic foods.

6) Minimize fast food or take out deliveries.

7) Enjoy meals with friends.
Need more social time? Mealtime companionship can offer social interaction and relaxation.

8) Minimize or eliminate the use of alcohol and tobacco.
Alcohol has no nutritional value, adversely affects brain cell function, and impedes the body's ability to maintain motor coordination, physical stamina, and healthy weight. Tobacco limits the body's oxygen capacity for exercise, stamina, immune system protection.

9) Take time to relax.
Maintain a self-care schedule, including ways to break the daily routine such as leisure reading, quiet reflection, aerobic exercise, off-campus activities, community involvement or service.

10) Enjoy college and area opportunities.
Get involved and take advantage of campus activities, local arts, regional sites.

11) Limit or avoid study-munching.
During study or paper writing, snacks can turn into nonstop munching. When hunger prevails, consider taking a brief, healthy snack break.

12) Try to achieve and maintain a balanced schedule.
Do your best to balance your class schedule, extracurricular activities, social life, and free time. Talk with a faculty friend, advisor, or student health counselor if scheduling becomes routinely stressful.

13) Recognize your nutrition "weak points."
Learn to manage your food connections when you are bored, anxious, stressed, or tired. Keeping a personal journal can help.

14) Remember: Nutrition and health professionals are here for you.
Seek professional assistance if personal or emotional issues consume your time and interfere with healthy living.

15) Stay connected with your family.