<p>I eat very healthy, because to me, what I put in my body is VERY important and correlates to what I get out of it. However, in order to maintain a great group of friends, social eating is practically a must. It's not like I can not eat when I go out with friends for lunch or dinner--which I do often! How does everyone else manage this? What about those of you who are strict vegans or have a gluten-free diet...or just serious food sensitivities? It's almost like eating healthy is considered "uncool" at college. o_0</p>
<p>EDIT: And, I used to NEVER go out to eat, EVER. So this lifestyle is a huge, unwelcome change for me!</p>
<p>Eating healthy is actually “cool” where I go to college, not vice versa. Who cares what they think? If they’re going to judge you and make fun of you for eating healthy then they aren’t good friends to have anyway.</p>
<p>You just have to find the healthy options at every restaurant, fast-food place, or dining hall that you go to. I try to eat only healthy food and this does restrict my diet at college because so many things are just rolled in grease and triple fried. Stay away from items with a lot of sauce, cheese, or red meat. Stay away from cheesy pasta dishes, enchiladas, or anything with a lot of ingredients combined together. A good tip is to go for simple fare where you can see each component that the dish is made of.</p>
<p>That’s a little harsh. They’re great friends, we just grew up in different environments and thus have different views on eating healthy. You’re lucky with your college environment, though! :(</p>
<p>But aside from that aspect of it, how can I limit going out to eat without killing my social life? Food is EVERYWHERE in social situations–and it’s not the healthy kind, obviously!</p>
<p>icanread, I do this…but my friends tend to frequent fast food chains, and even the healthiest options there are not healthy, due to poor standards and tasteless production methods.</p>
<p>I’m a vegan and I also enjoy eating healthy. However when I do go out (once or twice a month, I live in an off-campus apartment and make my own food most of the time) I get fries. At certain places its my only option. However if at the mall I get Subway and baked chips.</p>
<p>If i really don’t feel like eating something unhealthy, I just don’t. At a fast food place I would just sit and chat but not eat. If at a restaurant I would get a simple salad and eat when I got home.</p>
<p>I always wondered if fries were cooked in vegan-safe oils! Now I know, lol. Subway may sound great, but it’s really not my idea of a healthy meal either. It won’t bother me to eat out there maybe once every week or two, but EVERY DAY for lunch is a bit much for me. Of course, most of my friends don’t frequent anything nearly as healthy as Subway.</p>
<p>Would just getting a drink or water be permissible? I don’t want to seem like a social outcast! Not to even mention this is taking an enormous toll on my poor wallet. :O</p>
<p>Well the oils depend. If it isn’t a chain that has known, standardized procedures, I ask, because sometimes they are cooked in the same oil the meat has cooked in, and I can taste it. But most places don’t use the same oil.</p>
<p>Thats why I like the mall. (: Theres a lot of food options to choose from so more likely than not, everyone will be able to get something they like. My bf always has friendly’s takeout and I’ll get Subway. </p>
<p>Also I think water is fine. I always get a cup of water because its free and I like water better. No group of friends have ever questioned my food choices, especially my drink. Its the sitting down and eating whatever that we socialize over.</p>
<p>I’ve found that no one really cares what I eat when I go out with them. Only once has anyone ever commented on me just getting a salad, and that was because we went to an all-you-can-eat buffet.</p>
<p>I’ve also found that most people support eating healthily in college, just that it’s not always much of an option. Going to fast food chains only really happens much late at night for me because at that hour nothing else is open. I had a huge social eating problem until I figured out that no one that I associate with actually thinks it’s more polite for me to order a full meal than for me to just get something small or, if I’m full, something to drink.</p>
<p>As for special diet options (Vegan, gluten-free) the places around my college are actually really good about those things, and the places ON campus are even better. I can imagine how that would be a problem at many places, though. The best thing to do is just do your research on the menu items even if it involves asking directly. Sometimes just asking, “Do you have any vegan items?” will do wonders for your options. Even fast food restaurants have special diet options these days because they’re interested in getting EVERYONE to go to their restaurant.</p>
Now I know, lol. Subway may sound great, but it’s really not my idea of a healthy meal either. It won’t bother me to eat out there maybe once every week or two, but EVERY DAY for lunch is a bit much for me. Of course, most of my friends don’t frequent anything nearly as healthy as Subway.</p>
Its the sitting down and eating whatever that we socialize over.</p>