Eating is what keeps our bodies moving throughout the day. But how much do people consume during the school year?
It is clearly a raging topic, especially since many students have different appetites. On top of that, many students have busy schedules: sports, clubs, assignments, and more.
When do they have time for themselves? Time to eat? Time to take care of themselves?
I decided to gather data and ask my friends and teachers, who have a variety of responsibilities each day, to tell me about their eating habits. They have jobs, extracurriculars, and hold many AP & Honors classes.
Students that partake in sports and higher-level classes alone have their hands full. Celine Agustin, one of the volleyball captains, comes from a big family that holds food as their love language and is sustained by the joy of nourishment. She said that she barely had time to take care of herself during the volleyball season.
On top of that, she was tied up with assignments. She tried her best to put together meals with food she could easily access during her busy schedule – like toast or cereal. Although she ate a sufficient amount, she does claim it was not the healthiest she could have eaten. Now that volleyball season has ended, she has more time to do her homework and eat a healthy amount of food each day.
Students who hold a job while being in higher-level classes and involved in academic clubs are also busy as bees. Imagine waking up at the crack of dawn to go to school, staying after school, and also going to a job after the long school day. Where do they find time to complete their assignments, or even just find time for themselves?
Salma Mohamed, who works at Dunkin’ Donuts, is in many advanced classes and participates in various clubs. She claims that she is able to eat during the gaps of her day, such as her break. Even so, she barely has time to eat.
Mr. Veres (AP Biology teacher) revealed the benefits of intermittent fasting. Mr. Veres travels an hour each morning to teach his students. He fasts each morning until 11 a.m. He usually begins his day with a small meal, like a soup or salad. Throughout the day, he consumes homemade meals such as fish, stir fry, steaks, and many other delicious meals.
Mr. Veres states that he fasts for health benefits, including the improvement of the immune system. Initially, he started fasting because he experienced high cholesterol and blood pressure. After fasting for a period of time, he felt healthier overall, gaining more energy and a healthier conscience. During Mr. Veres’s busy work days, he is able to maintain a healthy routine for his body.
The importance of healthy eating goes a long way, especially during the school year when assignments are stacking up, sports are in season, and your boss is calling you in for your shift. As a person who is into health and nutrition, try making a healthy snack the night before, or even prep a meal. The littlest things make a huge difference.
