We have probably all experienced a time when we just grabbed a slice of pizza and a pop from the cafeteria because we felt so rushed we could not waste a moment to sit down and eat.
As students, it seems like we are constantly on the go and busy with something. This makes it hard to take the time to sit down and eat a proper meal. Recent research found that many young adults do enjoy sitting down to eat in a social setting with others. However, 35% of males and 42% of females in the study reported lack the time to sit down and eat a meal (Larson et al., 2009).
Why is this important? Those young adults who took the time to sit down ended up eating a better diet, which included more fruits and vegetables. Whereas, those who ate on the run consumed higher intakes of soft drinks, fast food, total fat and saturated fat (Larson et al., 2009).
What does this all mean? Taking the time to sit down to enjoy a meal can help young adults eat a healthier diet containing less calories, fat and sugar. What is even better is that eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables can also help overcome stress and boost the immune system.
Think twice next time you feel you are too busy to sit down to eat. Your body will thank you later for taking the time!
