CREDIT: GEORGE VARKEY
When it comes to adopting a healthy lifestyle, students tend to take the road of least resistance. That usually means minimal exercise and grab-and-go foods.

Believe it or not, only 25 per cent of the students at Fanshawe College seriously consider adopting a regular routine of exercise and healthy food habits. The rest ignore or rather blame it on their busy schedules at school that include exams and assignments, for the lack of time in following such a regiment.

I spoke with 100 students on campus and found that, despite the fact that they know how important it is, young people tend to have a lackadaisical attitude towards health. And for it they have an argument: there is barely any time during or after college hours to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

"Unlike a couple of years back, youngsters are well aware about the ill effects that too much liking for fast food could cause," said Thomas Gignac, a first-year Architectural Technology student. "I am a supporter and believer of healthy food. However, once in college, all we do is jump from one class to another and ensuring some food in between itself is a big thing. Some of my friends who stay with their parents bring to class homemade food, but for students like me who (live) away from home, preparing healthy food is an impossible task due to our tight schedules."

His classmate, Paul Charlebois, who was munching a sub, agreed with Gignac and added that though it is lame to blame school, regular exercise has taken a backseat owing to hours spent on studies and assignments.

"People could point out the availability of the college gym and argue that for some individuals there is not enough time ever, but to be frank, there isn't. Midterms just finished and we have semester finals in a matter of weeks. In between there are umpteen assignments to finish and it is always handy to have a fast food snack rather than pondering over a healthy food recipe," he said.

Business Foundations student Danny Cremasco, who finds her exercise routine now restricted to chasing London Transit buses on the way to college, holds the belief that pizzas, burgers and similar foods are unhealthy. "I dig a combination of both and believe that an occasional craving is okay. But my project work every afternoon finds me no choice than to have snacks from fast food joints inside the college," she said.

Most of the early morning classes see students having meager amount of food and a large coffee, despite breakfast being considered the most important meal of the day.

As per information provided in "Healthy Eating Matters," a food and nutrition toolkit prepared for the Ministry of Children and Youth services by registered dietitians and nutrition consultants, unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity could lead to bone, muscle and hormonal problems. It could also result in sleep difficulties, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke among young people.

But even the dire warnings continue to be ignored by students who find cheese-topped burgers and pizzas heaven on Earth. Listen to the words of Rishabh Rai, an Interior Design student, who lamented the cruelty of God for not allowing hamburgers to grow on trees. According to him, a momentary vision of a fast food joint's advertisement while on public transit or while browsing the Internet is enough to start a craving for burgers or pizza. "I know it's not an addiction or else I would have longed for it even when my tummy is full. However, many times, late at night, I have started from my place to the joint nearby to have a quick snack, and while munching them down with a soft drink I wish for a 'burger tree' sprouting in front of my home," said a chuckling Rishi.