Living a healthy lifestyle is an important piece to living a long and full life, but it can be difficult depending on your own budget and location. While not immediately evident when you look at Grand Forks, lately especially it has become easier to pursue healthy options for activities and dining in town. Some choices are on the pricier side of the scale and may only be an option for those with a higher disposable income, but others are available to anyone with the time and commitment to living healthier.
One of the most impactful ways to live healthier in your day-to-day life is by choosing to eat less prepackaged and unhealthy foods. These items capitalize on the convenience in just putting them in a microwave or oven, usually for less than 30 minutes, and being able to enjoy them right away, but they can offer this convenience by sacrificing health in exchange for preservatives and artificial flavorings. Coupled with that, it can be almost as easy to make your own food from fresher ingredients during the week with a focus on making larger quantities and eating leftovers more often. This can not only allow you to make healthier food, but it can also save a large amount of money since you pay a premium for the convenience of prepackaged foods.
Money saved by meal planning in advance can be used for other health focused items such as a gym membership or going to a healthy restaurant or grocery store rather than the more typical options. For grocery shopping two options are Aldi and Natural Grocers. On average, these two stores will have healthier and fresher options than Walmart and Target, but it should be said that it is not guaranteed and there could still be some items that are not as healthy as others available. During the summer months, there is also the option of visiting the Town Square Farmers Market, hosted in Downtown Grand Forks, for some of the freshest produce available in the area. This market is hosted on Saturdays throughout the summer and is a great option to support local businesses while buying healthier food.
Another huge part of living healthy is doing physical activity whether it is working out or something as simple as taking a walk or run around the block. Grand Forks has plenty of options for a gym membership occupying different price ranges and hours of operation. The cheapest option available to students is the Wellness Center on campus because membership is completely free to fee-paying students, with students who are not classified as fee-paying eligible to purchase a membership. This is a great option for students on a budget, but it can be crowded depending on what time of day you go, and the weekend hours can be restrictive for some students depending on your schedule. If the Wellness Center is not your preferred place to work out there are a number of traditional gyms located in town with three of the most common being Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, and the YMCA. Planet Fitness is usually the most budget friendly option with Anytime Fitness fitting in the more premium space with 24-hour access. The YMCA is usually the most expensive of the three, but it also includes a membership to Choice Fitness including the swimming pool located there. These three are not the only options and other gyms may fit your needs better, so it is important to tour them or inquire about a trial period they may offer.
If the gym atmosphere is not for you, Grand Forks has other options for staying fit in the city. There are a large number of parks located throughout the town with paths available to walk. Two of the largest areas for walking and running are the Greenway located along the river, and Turtle River State Park. The Greenway is a great location to relax and take in a little bit of nature during the day with many paths available for walking, running, or biking. While not technically in town, Turtle River offers the chance to go hiking within a 30-minute drive of the city and can be a great break from the usual routine if the drive is not worth making regularly.
Dylan Enerson is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].
