It’s a simple saying: you are what you eat.

The food you consume fuels your body, providing you with the energy you need to go about your day.

But the type of food with which you supply your body with can greatly affect your way of life. The healthier you eat, the happier your body will be and this is something people often dismiss in their daily lives.

Eating healthily is important. According to Jennifer Yee, professor of exercise science in the Department of Exercise Science and Pre Health Professions, poor nutrition can cause lack of motivation, sleepiness and depression. The body’s lack of fuel can leave you feeling ill or lethargic.

“Poor nutrition habits in the long run can cause long-term chronic diseases,” Yee said.

Diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and iron deficiency can

cause individuals to be overweight or obese. The most efficient way to prevent short- and long-term negative effects is to monitor what you eat on campus and in the dining halls.

Yee encourages students to calculate the number of calories they should be consuming per day. This will give a general outline of how you should be eating based on your level ofphysical activity and how much you exercise.

Don’t skip breakfast, lunch or dinner. Skipping meals slows the body’s metabolism and will leave you without a lot of energy.

“[Skipping meals] can also cause you to go into a starvation mode, which can cause you to binge and overeat at your next meal because you’re ravenous,” Yee said.

When deciding what food to eat, try to lean toward healthier options. Educate yourself on serving size, foods you should be consuming, and which foods are best in moderation.

The dining halls can be tricky. There are a limited number of options. You may not always like what they’re serving; and the pizza and french fries are always there.

While eating healthily is important, Yee encourages students to be smart. In her EXS 240 class, she has her students keep a food and activity log to address the common college student mistakes.

“A lot of my students don’t understand that they could also not be consuming enough calories based on their physical activity and exercise habits,” Yee said. “This can also slow metabolism down and can cause them to not burn fat efficiently throughout the day.”

Yee also said that students often do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, consume too many saturated and trans fats and are often lacking in fiber and unrefined carbohydrates (whole wheat carbohydrates).

So go for the veggies and chicken breast. Avoid the pop, candy, and sugary cereal. Treat yourself right. The dining halls do have healthy options, but you might have to silence your inner craving for fries.

Claire Storey/The Creightonian