Collegian offers tips to fight back against legendary ‘freshman 15’
By: Jessica Emili
In the midst of the preparation and excitement that precedes college life, few phrases have the power to strike more fear into the hearts and minds of those en route to higher education than "the freshman 15."
The catchphrase has worked its way into the vernacular of incoming freshmen, and with good reason. Late-night test cramming sessions and a full social calendar leave little time for planning healthy meals.
While it’s easy to pack on the pounds at college, there are always exceptions to the rule. Princeton University student-turned-author Daphne Oz who hails from Cliffside Park in Bergen County managed not only to avoid gaining the feared 15, she lost 10 pounds during her first semester.
Ms. Oz’s first book, "The Dorm Room Diet: The 8-Step Program for Creating a Healthy Lifestyle Plan that Really Works" (Newmarket Press), is filled with great advice for those looking to stay healthy through dorm life and beyond.
Ms. Oz struggled with her weight for most of her life. She had what she calls a "eureka moment" in high school, when she wanted to use baby pictures instead of high school photos on her yearbook page. It was then that she changed her unhealthy eating habits.
At 5 feet, 8 inches, 140 pounds, Ms Oz feels that she has achieved her ideal weight. But "at my heaviest, in high school, I weighed 175 pounds. It was weird because I’d never been one of those depressed, morose kids. But I wasn’t happy with the way I looked or performed" while playing tennis and lacrosse.
Ms. Oz hasn’t been on a diet since high school, she says. "All the weight loss is simply a product of eating in moderation whatever I want. It works for me to eat small meals every couple of hours. I like to snack, I like grazing."
A high school nutrition project led Ms. Oz to propose a teen health book about the diet teenagers ought to be eating. The book was written by the time she got to Princeton.
"I realized that college is such a unique experience and there’s no resource available specifically for college students and I wanted to write one. The book just sort of morphed into a college wellness guide," says Ms. Oz.
Writing a book can be a daunting task, especially for someone about to embark on her college career. Luckily, Ms. Oz comes from a family of experts. Her father, Dr. Mehmet Oz, is a cardiac surgeon and co-author of the best selling "You: The Owner’s Manual" and "You: The Smart Patient." Her grandfather is also a cardiac surgeon, and her grandmother is a nutritional adviser. And her mother is a vegetarian yet another helpful source of guidance.
"I was raised with a heightened health conscious. I took vitamins growing up. I knew what I should or shouldn’t be eating," says Ms. Oz.
"The Dorm Room Diet" advises students how to stop eating out of emotional need, and examines where, when and what students should be consuming. Ms. Oz’s book also outlines exercise plans, offers advice on vitamins and supplements, and gives tips on navigating the "college danger zones" that induce unhealthy eating.
Ms. Oz says that much of the book is based on her own experiences at college, but she interviewed other students at Princeton University and beyond to find out what students need and what they want to know about maintaining a healthy weight and general well being.
"I found the writing process really simple. It was just like writing down daily conversations with my friends. While I was writing it, I constantly had friends asking me for advice," she says.
While the book is obviously intended for college students, Ms. Oz believes that its content is relevant to anyone who’s living on their own.
"The book really does a good job of addressing people who are living independently. Yes, I specifically address things like late-night studying, living in a dorm, and cafeteria eating, but it can be helpful for all young adults. For someone who’s not attending college, you still have to be accountable for what you put into your body and where you eat," says Ms. Oz.
Ms. Oz has begun her junior year at Princeton, focusing on Near Eastern studies. She is still sticking to the guidelines she wrote for "The Dorm Room Diet."
"There’s tons of eating venues to choose from in Princeton, so I’ve found it really easy to stick to the recommendations I’ve made," she says.
Ms. Oz isn’t writing another book yet. "I’m in the process of giving my fingers a rest," she says, laughing.
Daphne Oz will speak and sign copies of ‘The Dorm Room Diet" on Wednesday, Sept, 20, at 7 p.m. in the Princeton University Store, which is located at 36 University Place, Princeton.
Staff writer Hilary Parker contributed to this story.