How to stay healthy at college

Many college students live on a tight budget, are forced into tight living quarters and have a hard time leading a healthy lifestyle. Minding what you eat can help living healthy, especially during flu season.

Samantha Cook, a junior biology major who lives in the townhouse, said that there are ways to work around pesky expiration dates. Cook said that if a loaf of bread is put into the refrigerator once it is getting close to its expiration date, the loaf can be eaten for about three or four more days. Cook, a vegetarian, added that a carton of soy milk is a good investment for the average college student because it doesn’t expire as quickly as dairy milk.

Yet some students do not mind eating food that is past their expiration dates. Tom Schoendorf, a freshman who lives in Magnolia, said that he has developed a habit of eating expired foods because he does not want to let money spent on food go to waste.

“You’re hungry at home,” Schoendorf said. “You’re looking in the cabinet. You’re saying, ‘Hmm, should this peanut butter be lumpy, even though it says it is creamy?’”

Schoendorf has had a lot of experience with expired foods, including when he tried to eat part of a batch of Jell-O in November when it had been made in July, as well as a piece of ravioli that was at least five years old. Schoendorf explained that when the Jell-O was first made, it was red; when the Jell-O was ingested, it had turned green. He ended up spending the rest of the day in bed.

Dr. Greg Caputo, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Rowan, said that there is a difference between an expiration date, a “sell by” date and “best if used by” date. According to Caputo, food cannot be consumed after the expiration date. On the other hand, food is good for about a week after the “sell by” date, and the “best if used by date” is related to quality, not product safety.

Many foods that college students love, such as Doritos and Ramen noodles, contain Monosodium Glutamates (MSGs). MSGs help food taste a lot better, even though they are better known for doing a lot of negative things to our bodies.

Caputo explained that MSGs have received a lot of bad press lately because the Food Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) did a series of studies on the impact of MSG intake in humans during the 1990s.

According to Caputo, eating foods with average levels of MSGs for long amounts of time does not cause serious injury to humans. However, some people are very sensitive to MSGs and can develop a reaction that is a lot like lactose intolerance.

“The effects in them are usually short term, such as headaches, nausea, rapid heartbeat, some numbness [or] a burning sensation in their neck, as well,” Caputo said.

Caputo said that MSGs are put into restaurants food as well as chips and Ramen noodles because it is a flavor enhancer.

“The sodium is your biggest long-term detriment because high sodium intake can lead to complications such as high blood pressure, which can affect people in their 20s, Caputo said. “There is an increasing prevalence of hypertension of young people because of increased sodium intake. The best thing I would recommend is be comfortable reading labels. It is the best way to avoid overly processed foods and make better choices.”

Caputo said that moldy food should always be thrown out because mold can spread from one piece of food to the next by growing rod-like extensions or becoming airborne.

Bacteria can also grow in clothes, sheets and wet, warm towels. Caputo said that because different types of bacteria grow at different rates, sheets, bed linens and towels should be put into the laundry at least once a week. If your roommate is sick or someone sits on your sheets, your clothes and sheets should be washed right after contact. The same goes for jeans, which can be worn over and over unless you are near someone who is sick.

The same level of cleanliness should be kept for common living areas, such as the living room and kitchen. Sophomore Kyle Knapp, a psychology major who currently lives at Edgewood, said he and his roommates vacuum the living room and scrub down the bathroom at least once a week. The way to stay on top of dirty dishes is to clean them when they are first dirtied.

When dirty dishes start to smell from sitting too long in the sink, it means that bacteria are breaking down food products, according to Caputo. Dirty dishes attract insects, mold and bacteria.

Rooms that are used the most should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week with cleaning supplies such as Clorox wipes. Knapp and his roommates had to put a mat on the base of their shower to protect their feet from the rust stains on the floor so that they would not contract tetanus.

Michele Salvatore, who attended Rowan from 1972-76, worries about her daughter, a current Rowan student, having to deal with bed bugs at school.

“Damp towels will attract them, especially at home,” Salvatore said. “I’m very careful about towels being dry and not leaving them on the floor.”

Students currently living on Rowan campus have complained about other pests. Junior art education major Patty Nehrbauer had mice inside her room while she lived at Mimosa during her freshman year. She kept her food safe by putting her food up high above the ground.

According to Gabe Arnold, a junior majoring in health promotion fitness management, life becomes easier if a person learns to allot time to clean, time to relax, and time to work. Arnold said that it is easier for people to lead healthier lifestyles if they learn to relax.

“You can enjoy everything in moderation,” Arnold said.

Tips for College Living

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o Pick the right roommate, preferably someone who’s clean. (Kyle Knapp, sophomore psychology major – Edgewood)
o Don’t assign cleaning roles. (Kyle Knapp, sophomore psychology major – Edgewood)
o Stay clean on a day to day basis so you don’t become overwhelmed. (Gabe Arnold, junior health promotion fitness management major – Rowan Boulevard)
o Time your hand-washing by singing “Happy Birthday” or the chorus of your favorite song for at least 15 seconds. (Sam Cook, junior biology major – Townhouse)
o Wipe down the shower stall when you’re done showering. (Sam Cook, junior biology major – Townhouse)
o Don’t leave damp towels out; they attract bed bugs. (Michele Salvatore, alumna – Triad)
o Spray shower stall with white vinegar right after you shower. It can be used for other areas too since it kills everything. (Michele Salvatore, alumna – Triad)
o Wash syrup and sauces off of dirty dishes because they attract bugs. (Sam Cook, junior biology major – Townhouse)
o Buy more than one set of sheets. (Gabe Arnold, junior health promotion fitness management major – Rowan Boulevard / Sam Cook, junior biology major – Townhouse)
o Use towels instead of hands when you’re touching doorknobs. (Sam Cook, junior biology major – Townhouse)