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The abundance of desserts in the dining halls are dangerous for students trying to avoid the R

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A change in lifestyle from high school to freshmen year of college can lead to a change in how firstyears manage their eating. Not having home-cooked meals may result in fast-food choices, and the stress of school can be difficult to deal with and an open buffet can add a second dinner that may not have been eaten otherwise. “A typical dining hall offers a salad bar and fresh cooked vegetables but there are fried foods and in addition to those choices there is also the factor of unlimited portions,” said Russell Klettke, author of “A Guy’s Gotta Eat,” a book about how to manage eating. The biggest factor which causes freshmen to gain weight is their transition from a structured eating environment at home to an unstructured one at school, Klettke said. “It’s being able to negotiate this new way of eating which is totally healthy in the residence halls but it’s just setting up your schedule and dealing with all you can eat,” said Elisa Terry, assistant director for fitness at the Wooden Center. “This is a transition period for people and ... it’s not about your appearance and your weight. It’s about being a healthy person and it is more so about trying to develop your lifestyle and yourself,” Terry said. Learning how to manage one’s college life can lead to bad nutrition choices. “When you get to college your lifestyle changes and you have to make an effort to exercise and not to snack late at night,” said Alethea Avramis, a second year student. “It’s really easy to get the freshmen 15 because I had friends who gained weight ... (due to) overeating and overdrinking and not getting enough exercise,” she added. Maintaining a healthy eating and exercising routine can help freshmen deal with the lifestyle change. “They have to look at their habits before they came to college. What was their exercise regime before? What were their eating habits before? They want to maintain those good habits as much as possible,” said Susan Bowerman, assistant director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. Klettke outlines three major areas that can help first years stay fit while making the lifestyle transition in college. Nutrition is the first major area. “Things like B vitamins contribute to nervous-system health and even things like folic acid play a big role in bone density which is a big part of anyone who is involved in athletic pursuits,” Klettke said. Folic acid a B vitamin can be found in vegetables and fruits, such as peas. Eating in moderation and eating healthy snacks can also keep first-years healthy. “The more natural human thing to do is to eat a little bit all day long. Snacking is a good idea but you have to learn to snack the right way ... There is no greater advantage than having food at home,” he said. The UCLA Housing and Hospitalities Web site suggests drinking a glass of water before each meal in order to not overeat. Getting sleep, walking and eating breakfast are all tips Klettke lists. But firstyears aren’t the only students in college in risk of gaining weight. If a bad eating habit is formed as a freshman then it can be upheld throughout the rest of that student’s college and adult life, Klettke said. “Some people in the higher grades, those who eat according to their stress, can find their stress level increase as school becomes more demanding and their eating hours can become more erratic,” Bowerman said. “They are not sleeping that well, they don’t make time to exercise, they don’t have money. These patterns can leave with them when they leave college,” she said. Finding healthy ways to manage stress, such as with exercise, controlling portions and maintaining a similar dietary and exercise regime prior to coming to college can keep freshmen fit, Bowerman said. The John Wooden Center provides classes and exercise options, and students can participate in intramural and club sports, among other activities, to manage their stress, Terry said.