DR. WALLACE: I'm a self-described "careless eater," perhaps mainly because I've just completed my first year in college and I'm not eating home-cooked meals very often anymore. I tend to eat whatever is in front of me or whatever is the most convenient, and I realize I've developed some pretty bad habits over the last year.

I know I should do better, but it seems so overwhelming to have to figure everything out nutritionally, when I have so little free time as it is. It seems like a project that's going to take a lot of my time, so that has pushed me towards procrastinating rather than facing the issue head-on.

Do you know of any quick and easy ways to improve my eating habits without sending me into "term paper" mode on this topic? — Careless Eater Needs an Easy Fix, via email

CARELESS EATER NEEDS AN EASY FIX: Without recommending a deep study mode, I'll give you some quick cliff notes. The number one thing to do that will help you improve your diet immediately is to drink more water and eliminate all drinks that have sugar in them. This means sodas and various canned beverages of many types and even sweet tea. Any liquid sugar! Your body will also enjoy drinking more pure water, as this will be healthier and will give you a little bit more of a filled-up feeling once you get used to drinking a lot of clear, clean water each day.

Next, buy several pieces of fruit in advance each week, like apples, bananas, oranges, tangerines or whatever fruit you like that will store easily. Eat one or more of these daily when you feel the slightest pang of hunger, as it will bring you back to a level feeling, and you won't gorge on the next piece of food you see along the way during your day.

And when you do eat meals, even when you're eating out or having fast food, add a healthy item alongside whatever you're planning to eat, preferably some sort of vegetable. This will accomplish two things. The vegetable will be much healthier, and due to its volume, you'll likely eat less of the other food that comprises the main course of your meal.

SHOULD I FOLLOW MY GUT HERE OR JUST LET THEM BE?

DR. WALLACE: I'm a female college student and I have a female roommate. She and I never knew each other before we met on campus, and although we're not super close friends, we've turned out to be excellent roommates for each other.

We live in a duplex, and there's a young married couple that lives next to us, probably in their mid-twenties, age-wise. We've been living here now for about six weeks in this new location, and so far, all I've done is wave at the neighbors and briefly say hello a couple of times. The few random interactions we have had with them have been extremely brief and informal.

Lately, I've had this gut feeling that I should more formally introduce myself to them, since they seem like nice people, and they are the closest neighbors to us. But then, in the back of my mind, I feel like I would be imposing on them if I were to knock on their door and interrupt their daily life in any way. Should I just let this go, since I'm going on two months living here and haven't really spoken much to them anyhow? — Should I Actually Meet the Neighbors?, via email

SHOULD I ACTUALLY MEET THE NEIGHBORS?: I do think it's a good idea, particularly based upon the gut feeling you've had that you should go over and formally introduce yourself to them.

It's always a good idea to break the ice with neighbors who seem easy-going and potentially compatible, as is the case I'm discerning from your letter. Even a quick, informal meeting will suffice. You absolutely don't need to do anything on a grand scale, and perhaps on a Saturday morning, you could go out and get some baked goods for you and your roommate and pick up a couple extra for them next door.

Simply drop them off, smile, and tell them that you meant to do this sooner, but you've been so busy getting oriented and acclimated to the new surroundings that it took you a while to introduce yourself to them. That's it! Keep it short and sweet, smile and exchange names and handshakes with them and let it go at that for now. Let them know that if they ever need anything in the future, you're always willing to help a neighbor with a helping hand.

This should set things up comfortably, and if by chance you ever need a favor or someone to look out for you or your roommate, you should have friendly neighbors potentially available to call upon.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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