Health is non-negotiable, and age is no excuse.
No matter how much you can take advantage of the student life or youthful years by saying that ‘this is the age to explore and experiment’, health eventually catches up as you age.
Especially when you are living on your own as a student in a far-from-home land like Canada, one of the real challenges is maintaining a healthy lifestyle while chasing assignments, part-time jobs and social life.
Although it gets super exciting to embark on an adventurous journey in a foreign land, the reality of it succumbs to your health.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of the practical steps to keep healthy while still enjoying that student phase of life.
1. Integrate Canada’s food guide into the Indian palate
Akin to ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’,
Try to bring an Indian twist by following Canada’s food guide. The guide recommends filling most of the plate with fruits and vegetables, followed by a quarter of the portion with whole grains and proteins.
This coincides perfectly with our Indian food culture, too.
Therefore, manage your plate accordingly by,
- Add some of the favorite Veggies & Fruits – Bhindi, Cauliflower, Eggplant, or even a simple cucumber, and an apple would do the needful.
- Whole Grains – Choose ordinary rice for the brown ones, Whole Wheat or Quinoa to get instant energy.
- Proteins – Towards achieving your daily protein goal, make sure to incorporate Lentils, simple Dal Tadka, or Paneer.
2. Stay hydrated
Sticking to the basics always serves you well.
No matter how tired you feel when someone calls you out for drinking water, they are right for a good reason. Although it sounds like cliché lifestyle advice, it is a total game-changer when it comes to regulating your digestion, energy, focus and even your mood.
As a student, you are often taken over by assignment submission, extra classes, and group work, on account of which something so simple as taking 2 to 3 sips of water fails to cross your mind.
This may even lead to severe headaches, digestive disorders, and mood swings.
Remember when you are feeling a bit ‘off’, there could be no reason than missing a tall glass of water.
3. Opt-in healthy snacks
You are not spoilt for choices unless you keep choosing the right one that serves you.
Snacking is irresistible for a student.
It can never be undone once you start munching during late-night study sessions and the usual suspects are cookies, potato chips, energy drinks, and pizza. Still, you have a chance to turn into healthy & delicious food with a little bit of mindful planning. Accordingly, some of the snack fuels for the day would be,
- Roasted Makhana – Simple, easy to bite, crunchy and rich in protein & antioxidants. Give them a simple roast with a drop of ghee or just salt & pepper, or with a sprinkle of chat masala.
- Mixed fruit bowl – Chop down your favorite fruits like apples, pomegranates, bananas, and grapes. Mix them well to enjoy a guilt-free snacking experience. If you are the one with a sweet tooth, add a drop of honey to enhance the sweetness of the fruit bowl. Contrastingly, add two or three spoons of chat masala to spice it up a bit.
- Mixed nuts & dry fruits – Keep a small jar near your desk filled with almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and sunflower seeds in the right proportions. When a snack craving hits you harder, one spoonful of mixed nuts gives you an instant energy to fight back a potentially long day.
- Roasted Channa – It is completely power-packed with protein and fibre which can be quick when you are craving on a late evening.
4. Limiting the highly processed foods
Beyond taking in healthy, cutting down on unhealthy habits is also a priority.
Let’s face the reality- The student’s corner is always around a bag of potato fries or pastries. If you are choosing an occasional run-in, this is an instant way of charging yourself.
However, the real problem sets in when your energy dependency is high on those instant feeds.
The extent of such a problem leads to a lack of concentration, weight gain, and poor digestion. Hence, it is advisable for the students not to get lost in the wild run of a new country but rather take mindful steps in their eating habits.
Be conscious about the number of processed foods and increase the wholesome nutrition-rich items.
5. Try Indian tiffen services
Missing home cannot be comprehended.
Yet, significant alternatives are prevailing to a greater extent today in Canada.
The recent entry of Indian Tiffen Services since the pandemic has transformed Canada’s food delivery services.
Indian Tiffen Services, Canada aims to deliver healthy homemade food by partnering with the home cooks residing in the nearby Indian neighborhoods.
It has been greatly welcomed by most of the Indian immigrants specifically from the community of students and the working professionals who are delivered healthy meals at the doorstep at affordable prices.
Further, many homemade food delivery services like Tiffen Stash, and Meal Maven are providing exclusive discounts for the students.
Are you an Indian student craving mom’s food deeply inside while munching on unhealthy products? Indian Tiffen Services, Canada is your go-to destination to embark on the healthy eating journey.
Wrap Up
Student life is hard.
In particular, leading your life as an international student leaving your home is not an easy take.
When you are juggling between assignments, deadlines, and projects, there is a higher chance that your health might slip down easily.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this sacrificial way of living in an international destination. With a little bit of planning starting from integrating Canada’s food guidelines, staying hydrated, choosing healthy snacks, and cutting down on processed foods, your health can get right back on track.
Even when cooking feels too much, you can still lean into exploring Indian Tiffen Centres which has got your back in delivering fresh & balancing homemade Indian food at your doorstep.
Always remember: Healthy eating is not an overnight fix, but a consistent practice to be built by listening to your body, and mind.
