A big part of figuring out how to eat right and maintain a healthy lifestyle on your own is dependent on you having the tools and information available to you to help you make the right choices. This is why Step 2 in the DRD demands that you be proactive! Learn how your family’s eating habits have shaped the way you view eating, how your body burns the calories you put into it, and how to calculate the calorie intake that is right for you (depending on your individual needs, of course!). Once you know the facts, avoiding college pitfalls and developing healthy habits will come naturally.

Your second challenge, brought to you by the DRD, is to research how to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR for short). This is the number of calories your body burns daily without your having to do anything at all. Keep in mind that any activity you do in addition to these natural functions also requires fuel in the form of calories. Remember, if you eat more calories than your body metabolism needs daily, you will gain weight!