In Part 1 of this series, we concluded that the cornerstone of any healthy diet should be "whole" foods, as opposed to food products.

A farmer's market would be the ultimate source of whole foods, but I wouldn't expect an overload of college students to be hitting up the local farmer's market (not to mention they're almost impossible to find for half the year in cold Connecticut). Stop-and-Shop is probably your most practical solution, and the more produce in your cart, the better.

We were left with the dilemma of eating less, something our society has been getting progressively worse at for the last three decades. This is arguably for two reasons:

First, the cheapest options are typically the most refined, sugar-laden, calorically dense foods.

This is because your government chooses to give your tax money in the form of financial subsidies to the backbones of the processed food industry, corn and soybean farmers.

This is why 200 calories of Coke costs you about a buck, and 200 calories of apple will cost you about two.

This is why a Twinkie, with 25 different ingredients, costs less than half of what a large tomato currently costs at Stop-and -Shop.

Of course if you factor cost in regards to $/nutrient as opposed to $/calorie, it's much cheaper to buy the healthier food. But try telling a single mom raising two kids in Bridgeport that by spending more now she'll actually save money in the long run since she won't be sick in 20 years.

The second reason we're having trouble eating less is actually related to this economic issue.

The processing of food leaves us with inexpensive food products that are largely void of nutrients such as dietary fiber, and consequently do not fill us up particularly well.

After all, does it do a food company much good if their product satiates you? You wouldn't need to buy as much, or as frequently.

The next time you need a snack, eat a bag of potato chips, candy, or any food product and determine how long it really keeps you full. Or better yet, drink a 100-200 calorie drink (soda, most teas available in bottles, Vitamin Water) and see what it does for you.

Then compare that to a similar situation when you choose an apple or any other fruit instead.

The high water and fiber content will help you feel full for much longer, which if you recall is the point of a "snack" anyway.

Protein will have a similar effect in regards to keeping you feeling full. So next time you're eating a salad for lunch at Flik, try throwing some kidney beans or chickpeas in there so that meal will sustain you until dinner time.

If you recall our stolen mantra from Part I was "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

The third part is relatively easy to figure out. If you look down at your plate and see that half is covered by meat of some sort, you may want to consider filling more of that plate up with more vegetables, fruit, or whole grains such as brown rice or 100% whole wheat breads/pastas.

Rest assured that if you consuming an adequate amount of calories, you are receiving plenty of protein even if you are a vegan who consumes no animal products.

Hopefully your diet bears some resemblance of the principles illuminated in Part I and II of this article series.

Being the first time you are away from home for an extended period, college is a great place to start making eating decisions that will prepare you for a lifetime of successful weight management and health.

Unfortunately, most students when given almost unlimited access to food will over-consume with a vow to change habits post-college.

Forgetting research momentarily, I can anecdotally assure you that most who eat poorly during college will continue to do so as referenced by the multitude of emails I receive from college friends (most of whom are in their late twenties) who now want to lose significant amounts of weight.

Perhaps more importantly, when one's diet is based upon nutrient-dense, "healthy" foods in appropriate amounts there is absolutely no reason why that individual should ever feel bad or guilty about occasionally indulging in what may be considered "junk food."

Frankly, there's really no reason to ever feel that way. There is of course reason to take responsibility for what you put in your body and in what amounts.

But quite often people have better perspective about eating, say frozen yogurt, when they know the rest of their diet is pretty good.

There's nothing I hate more as a nutritionist then watching someone eat while saying something like, "oh God, I know this is so bad for me."

Why eat something "unhealthy" (we will bypass the argument against that word) if you're not going to fully indulge in it?

It's reminiscent of Jim Gaffigan's description of the shamed people waiting in line for a Cinnabon.

There's no good reason for food to ever make you feel anything but good.

So I'll close this article series with "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Occasionally indulge. Don't feel bad about it.