“Will I still fit into my skinny jeans?” To some, these words may signify the very greatest fear one has about entering college: gaining weight.

Although late-night eating, snacking and access to unlimited soft serve in the dining hall seems like a recipe for nothing short of the “Freshman 15,” there are a few ways we can take our inevitable college eating habits and make them harmless to our waistlines.

Eat this, not that

Whether you’re cramming for a test, out with your friends or just watching TV with your roommates, odds are there is a snack within arms reach. We get it — you are hungry, tired and stressed. That’s okay! We just need to replace the bag of potato chips or gallon of ice cream with something a little bit better for you. According to Clarke University, college students aren’t usually eating because of hunger, but rather as a type of coping mechanism. Swap out some of your unhealthy, go-to snacks for some healthier ones. Here are a couple of easy suggestions:

—Try dried fruit instead of gummy candy. It’s sweet and chewy, without being filled with sugar and dyes.

—Swap out chips for unbuttered popcorn. Popcorn is 100 percent whole grain and packed with antioxidants. You’ll still satisfy your craving for something crunchy, but in a more nutritious way.

—Instead of ice cream, try Greek yogurt. You can actually freeze Greek yogurt for up to three months before it goes bad. You’ll still get the taste of something cool and creamy, but you will be eating something packed with lean protein instead of saturated fats.

Make meals a priority

The dining hall can be another danger zone. When you graze the cafeteria lines, all there seems to be are burgers, fries and an unlimited amount soft serve (yes, I suffer from a soft serve addiction). Even though the healthier options may not catch our attention, they are there. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund suggests that “healthy eating” is often times more about when we eat, opposed to what we eat. For instance, don’t waste all of your caloric intake on one meal (this does not mean to starve yourself all day, and then eat six bowls of ice cream for dinner), but give yourself boosts of energy by eating throughout the day.

—Make sure you eat breakfast. Yes, I sound like your mother right now, but she was right about this one. Try some whole grain cereal or instant oatmeal. These options are light and easy, and they will give you a spur of energy before your 8 a.m. class.

—Don’t ever let yourself get too hungry. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, and don’t be afraid of snacks. Just make sure you are not splurging and overeating at every meal. If you let yourself get too hungry, you’ll end up overeating and potentially using all your calories in a single meal. For an 18-year-old female, one’s daily caloric intake should be about 2,000 calories, and for a male 18 years old, about 2,400 calories. Calories that should be consumed per day are based on an individual and their activity level, as well as other health factors.

—Stop by the salad bar and eat your fruits and veggies. Fruits and vegetables are low in calories, high in fiber and provide you with a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Be a conscientious eater

Finally, pay attention to what you eat all day. A University of Michigan Health Report noted that college students often don’t pay attention to what they have consumed the entire day because of irregular class and sleeping schedules. Think about the choices you made for breakfast before you order your lunch. Think about what you ate for lunch before you load up on dinner. This is a great way to ensure you’re covering all your nutritional bases. If you have a light breakfast, eat more for lunch. Consider the last time you ate. If your lunch was late, maybe aim for a lighter dinner. Your meals are not solo acts; all together, they make up an entire day of your nutritional needs.

—Write down what you eat. If you’re not going to remember, just make a quick note in your phone. This will also hold you accountable for when you’re trying to justify that third trip to the soft serve machine.

—Try to incorporate something plant based at each meal. This could be fruit, some veggies or a side salad. This is an easy way to make sure you’re eating something healthy and substantive during every meal.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been warned about this inevitable weight gain for sometime now. You’ve braced yourself for the day when your favorite jeans might be just a little to snug. Keep in mind that you can be smart about what you eat. Remember, college is not an excuse to be unhealthy. The Freshman Fifteen is in your control and quite honestly, nothing to fear.

Samantha is a freshman in Business. She can be reached at [email protected].