By Emilie Oestreicher

With 2026 quickly approaching, you are probably beginning to plan your New Year’s resolutions. Food is usually at the top of that list, but it is where most of us give up the quickest. January arrives with the pressure to follow strict routines, but reality doesn’t always allow it. Once classes pick up and your schedule gets busy, eating can become an afterthought. A new year does not need to mean restricting yourself or following a lifestyle that does not fit. Instead, treat it like a chance to build small habits that feel enjoyable. Your resolutions become much easier to keep when they don’t feel like a chore.

Let’s start by clearing up a common misconception: you don’t need to give up your favorite foods to make healthier choices. Even the CDC says that you can still enjoy comfort foods as long as you’re mindful about how often and how much you have of them. It can be as simple as enjoying them less frequently, choosing a smaller portion, or swapping in lighter ingredients. For example, you could use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream in a dip or eat a single slice of pizza with a side salad, instead of three slices.

Another part of building realistic food habits – especially as a college student – is giving yourself easy options for busy days. Sometimes the hardest part is simply deciding what to eat, but you can solve this by having a few go-to meals or main ingredients. Keep things like frozen vegetables, canned beans, or pre-cut fruit on hand to throw together something quick that still feels nourishing. And if you ever feel stuck, check out our DIY and Herbivore sections for healthy recipes that don’t take hours to make.

Lastly, try paying attention to how food fits into the rest of your routine. Notice when you tend to skip meals, grab snacks out of stress, or crave something specific after long days. Those patterns can tell you what your body actually needs. Maybe this means packing something rich in protein for an afternoon slump or having a quick breakfast on hand for mornings when you rush to class. By understanding your own patterns, you can develop eating habits that boost your mood every day.