Each January many people feel compelled to use the new year as a way to start fresh. Students make vows to wake up for early morning classes, get homework done and limit alcohol intake.

The big resolution that is often heard around Jan. 1 is: "I will eat healthier this year." Whether it's because of the freshman 15 or the 21st birthday beer belly, most people are hoping that 2006 brings them healthier bodies.

"There is so much temptation to not eat healthy," Jennifer Rufo (senior-journalism) said. "I live down the street from R. U. Hungry and a beer distributor, which makes it even worse."

The hardship for college students lies in temptation for and accessibility to fast food. It's often easier to run down the street and grab pizza than it is to make a healthy meal.

Thankfully, there are ways to keep healthy without sticking to a strict diet.

Jennifer Chesworth, owner of Herbalists Without Borders, 153 S. Allen St, suggests finding what works best for your own body to stay healthy.

"What works for one person might not work for another person," Chesworth said.

Chesworth also said it's a good idea to incorporate herbs into one's diet. She also suggestedg that students investigate the Internet and books before adding herbs to their diets.

"I offer classes in herbs, and I can teach people which herbs will work best for their body," Chesworth said. "There are over 100 uses for herbs, and it is a whole system to understand."

However, Chesworth does caution that there is no quick fix with herbs to lose weight.

While some students are finding the temptations of fast food downtown, others are using 2006 to get healthier.

"In college, you tend to get lazy, and it's hard to eat healthy," Vitaliy Vlasenko (senior-economics) said. "I have a fast metabolism, but on top of that, I do try and eat at least one healthy meal a day, and I do not starve myself."

On top of eating better, Ches-worth had one piece of advice for anyone looking to jumpstart his or her attempts to get healthy.

"Take a half an hour walk each morning before you eat breakfast," Chesworth said. "The walk starts the lymphatic and digestive system and gets your body moving and rids your system of any toxins left in the body from the day before."

Chesworth said movement is the most helpful thing to getting healthy. She added that drinking water would help students lose weight.

"Drink water, lots of water," Chesworth said.