Many college students who are pressed for time and money may feel that a healthy lifestyle is too difficult to do. It’s not.

Small changes in diet can make all the difference without compromising flavor or spending all day in the kitchen.

“Eat breakfast. Many people start skipping it in high school because of a misconception that breakfast has to be a heavy meal. It is important because it is literally breaking a fast and provides energy to start the day,” said Vicky Moody, director of nutrition services for the Northeast Health District in Athens.

Maintaing a healthy diet doesn’t mean foregoing the convenience of dining out.

“There are healthy choices in any ethnic variety menu. Every major restaurant also has health information available online,” said Roshni Patel, a dietitics graduate student interning with Moody.

Students also rely heavily on caffeinated drinks and pills for added energy. These are fine in moderation, but excessive intake can result in dehydration, “jitters,” anxiety and insomnia.

The best way to be sure to have enough energy throughout the day is to get enough sleep. Most people need six to eight hours to feel fully rested.

According to Angela Garcia, a registered dietician with University Food Services, students should watch out for “empty calories, eating late at night, portion size and not leaving enough time in their schedule for exercise.”