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It’s that time of year again. Freshmen are ferociously fighting between feelings of nervousness and excitement as they move to new cities, start new classes and make new friends. To add more stress to the life of a freshman, they hear this everywhere: beware The Freshman 15.

The story of The Freshman 15 dates back many years and yet there is still no substantiated evidence to back up its existence. It is a myth which haunts the lives of freshmen and even students in the years that follow. Whether you fall victim to the wrath of The Freshman 15 or not depends on your lifestyle, and whether you allow a myth to get the best of you or fight back.

There are many reasons that The Freshman 15 bulks up new students, but new students should consider the following ways to remain healthy throughout the stressful changes that occur in first year and beyond:

Be aware of alcohol intake

Trying to convince a newly independent student not to drink is next to impossible – I’ve been there, I know. However there are “healthier” alternatives to those six glasses of sweet liqueur you consumed last night.

For wine lovers, white zinfandel stands at the lowest calorie count with only 80 calories per 4 oz serving.

Beer lovers will be happy to know that although beer is generally high in calories and fat, there is a beer database found (BeerTutor.com) which lists the lowest calorie beers.

Avoid late night meals and snacking

There is a reason why people say, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Filling up on a large, healthy breakfast helps keep you satisfied throughout the day so you can don’t have to turn to junk foods late at night to curb your appetite.

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