Eating healthy in the dining hall can be a challenge when there’s an endless supply of pizza, fro-yo and fries. However, it’s actually easier than most of you probably think; you just have to get creative!
Check out these 5 tips to help you eat healthy in the dining hall:
1. Balance Your Plate
The key to making the dining hall work for you is to balance your plate with healthy fats, proteins and carbs. For protein, check out the options at the salad bar like tuna, hard boiled eggs and turkey. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, it’s super important to get in your protein as well! Stock up on beans, edamame, tofu, lentils, or veggie burgers to keep you feeling full for longer. If you want a salad but don’t like the options you see at the salad bar, you can easily pick up a grilled chicken breast or whatever protein is on the menu that day and add it to your salad.
Fats often get a bad rep, but healthy fats are actually essential to the diet and keep you feeling full for longer. The dining hall always has avocados, which are probably the healthiest fat on the planet. Add some to your plate by throwing it on a salad or making avocado toast with whole wheat or gluten free bread! Eggs are also a great source of healthy fats and can be a great addition to salads or your breakfast. Try packing your omelette with veggies, instead of cheese and meat. You’ll hardly even be able to taste them!
CARBS. So many people are scared of them, but they’re the main source of energy for our bodies. Carbs be found naturally in fruits and veggies, but it’s also great to consume them through whole grains (oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, etc.), wheat bread and potatoes.
2. Sauce It Up
Healthy food has a rep for being bland and tasteless, but it doesn’t have to be. Condiments and seasonings are your best friends when trying to make healthy choices, and the dining hall has a ton of them. Sriracha and hot sauce are great on eggs, meat and just about anything. Garlic powder and pepper can add lots of flavor to foods without all the added sodium.
3. Skip the Soda and Sugary Drinks
Most Americans consume way too much sugar, partly due to how much soda is consumed. Skip out on the soda and drink water instead. Your body will thank you! If you don’t like the taste of water, try having infused water, and adding some fruit into it, which the dining hall has a lot of the time.
4. You Don’t Have to Skip Dessert!
It’s easy to go for a piece of cake or a cookie every time you eat at the dining hall, but you can satisfy your sweet tooth in healthier ways. Try having fruit after your meal, or make a yogurt parfait, one of my personal favorite desserts. Get some yogurt, add some fruit and granola, and you have an easy, healthy dessert that won’t give you a sugar crash.
5. Everything in Moderation
Eating healthy is important, but it’s also important to just enjoy life and eat what you crave. If you’re in the mood for junk food, balance out your plate by getting pizza with a side salad or steamed veggies, instead of pizza with fries. Small changes can make the biggest difference. As long as you make relatively healthy choices on a regular basis, there is room to enjoy all of your favorite junk foods!
Interested in learning more? Health Services has a registered dietitian on staff available to students for consultations and Food Services has a ton of nutrition info.
Written by: Carina Coestad ’22 in The College of Visual and Performing Arts and blogger on Instagram @eatsbycarina