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Sometimes deciding what to eat without splurging or going to the opposite extreme is harder than a geometry proof. With a carb-obsessed society -- Atkins-this, South Beach-that -- what's an ambitious college-bounder to do? Although healthy options do exist in the good ole school cafeteria (like the fresh fruit salad standby), tempting late-night cravings still persist, and pizza deliveries are only a phone call away. What's a starved college student to do?

"My best advice for college students is to spend as much time planning what to eat as deciding what to wear," advises Cathy Cunningham, human ecology professor at Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville, TN). "The pressure for social acceptance takes priority in any college freshman's life, and eating correctly easily falls by the wayside."

So, how exactly can you eat right when the cafeteria boasts an assortment of waist-expanding food? (Can you say "unlimited servings of yummy chocolate chip cookies"?!) For starters, you can check out the  

dining hall

  for healthy food options before filling your tray with the ones you know and love, like burgers and fries. After all, the "Freshman 15" is not just a myth, says Tanya Horacek, Ph.D., RD, associate professor of nutrition at the College of Human Services and Health Professions at Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY). Many new college students gain weight, often due to poor food choices, so you'll need to be dining hall-savvy. She advises hitting the food bars head-on -- with the right attitude, of course.

"Take advantage of college as a fresh start to begin new, more healthy eating behaviors," says Horacek. And, pay attention to portions. You can still eat what you want, but be careful -- especially when you're dealing with a packed food bar and access to as many clean plates as you want.

"Pack a healthy snack to avoid binging on unhealthy food between classes," adds Horacek. (Actually, when you think about it, your backpack is perfect for snagging a yogurt or banana on your way out of the cafeteria.) Basically, your stomach is at the mercy of dining hall hours, not necessarily on hunger itself. Having a handy snack is essential for healthy eating.

Leslie Ekstrand, general manager of Parkhurst Dining Services at Chatham College (Pittsburgh, PA), agrees that it's important to have healthy snacks and meals. "It's just a matter of making healthy choices," she says. "Make a meal [in your dorm room] -- and not grilled cheese." Actually, Ekstrand ensures her students have access to calorie, carb, and fat counts with every meal at their dining hall and snack bar. If you're not as lucky as Chatham students -- they even have a great grains program that boasts vegan whole grain and vegetable protein salads -- never fear.

Another huge component of curbing your caloric intake is burning it off. Aside from the exercise of walking or jogging, take a trip to your campus fitness center -- hey, it's there, and membership is usually included in your tuition fee.

Plus, many centers offer more than cardio machines and weight training, with options like swimming, aerobics, and pickup games at the basketball and volleyball courts. And remember, most gyms on campus serve two purposes: getting in shape and getting social!

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