While it is hard to completely shed bad habits, Penn State professors say that there are many ways to improve "bad for you" foods by cutting out unnecessary and unnoticeable calories.

One of the biggest issues with college eating is the dining hall because of the buffet-style eating, said Brenda Eissenstat, professor of nutritional studies. Eissensat said eating at the commons is not only convenient but is often the only option for younger students, so early intervention is key for beginning a nutritious diet.

"Not going back for seconds in a buffet setting would help with the over-consumption problem. Also, eating a salad first before the rest of a meal will make people more full before they get to higher-calorie choices on their plate," she said.

According to scientificamerican.com, late-night snacking and eating while intoxicated is often a problem for students. Eating before bed is the worst time to indulge in heavy foods, as the body's metabolism goes into its slowest state during sleeping periods.

"The most important thing for people to do after a night of drinking is to drink lots of fluids. As for those who choose to eat pizza at the end of the night, choose veggies over pepperoni when it comes to toppings. In fast-food restaurants, maybe choose grilled chicken sandwiches, and skip the fries," said Coleen Greecher, a registered dietician and Assistant Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Hershey Medical Center.

Eissenstat said if students could completely avoid the late-night takeout scene and instead stock refrigerators with fruits and vegetables to come home to, they could avoid many impulsive calories.

While more blatant eating mistakes are made at night, there are many hidden mistakes that students are unaware of during the day. Those who look for their daily caffeine boost in a Grande Mocha Frappachino from Starbucks may be consuming the same amount of calories, fat and sugar as a milkshake, Eissenstat said.

Simple ways to cut back with coffee drinks is to opt for skim-milk options, lose the whipped cream or simply drink regular coffee with a no-calorie sweetener. Artificial sweeteners such as Splenda or Equal are calorie-free and are unabsorbed by the body, are safe in moderate amounts and go right through the system, Eissenstat said.

"[Many students are unaware] that many of the more extensive coffee drinks have 300 to 400 calories, while plain coffee is [virtually] calorie-free. You just have to be careful as to what you add in terms of cream and sugar, because it really adds up," she said.