Candy was my study buddy, and I ate pasta for dinner every night, so it’s unsurprising that my first semester of college I ended up putting on way more than the dreaded freshman 15. Gaining weight once you hit dorm life doesn’t have to be a given; you can avoid packing on the pounds and having to buy a new, larger wardrobe with these calorie-cutting tips. Choose a limited meal plan: Signing up for unlimited trips to the dining hall is a meal plan option, but not the best one when you want to avoid weight gain. If you can hit the dining hall whenever you want, you’ll be tempted to join your friends for a second dinner, so choose the two or three meals a day option, and eat in your dorm room the rest of the time. Don’t fall for the all-you-can-eat scam: It’s shocking when

you walk into a dining hall for the first time and see the huge spread of self-serve food to choose from. Make sure you’re keeping your portions in check, and don’t make a habit of going back for seconds and thirds. Having mozzarella sticks and french fries for every meal won’t do your waist any favors either, so skip the high-calorie fried foods and opt for the salad bar instead. Don’t splurge on junk even though no one is watching you. It’s liberating not to have your parents there to tell you not to eat that fourth cookie, but those calories add up just the same. Use your healthy sense, and know when to indulge and when to say no. Continue reading for more ways to avoid the freshman 15.

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Ways to Cut Calories and Avoid the Freshman 15