Living on campus can be tough on your diet. We’re all forced to buy a meal plan, and for some, it might seem like we’re destined to gain the freshman 15 (and sophomore 15, and junior 15…) because unfortunately, it’s much easier to grab a burger and fries from Bear’s Den than put effort into finding something healthier. But don’t worry too much, for it is possible to eat healthy, even on the Forty, and even with minimal effort!

First and foremost, there is the obvious: salad! There are salad bars in Bear’s Den, the basement of Mallinkrodt and in Center Court. Load up your plate with lots of veggies, and top it off with a piece of chicken or turkey, eggs or tofu. Salads, if you make sure to fill them with protein, can be filling as well as healthy. Just make sure you avoid salad dressing at all costs-your dinner can go from having just a couple hundred calories to, well, a lot more than that.

Subway, if navigated correctly, also provides a number of ways to eat healthy. Most of their sandwiches are low in fat and low calorie; you just have to be smart when ordering: forego the cheese, mayo and sauce, and opt for veggies instead. “I order a six-inch turkey on honey oat bread, with lettuce, tomato and honey mustard,” said junior Ellen Smirnoff. Be daring, and put cucumbers, green peppers or spinach on your sub, and add Baked Lays or Baked Doritos as a side. Subway offers yummy salads and wraps (also healthy) too.

Wraps are available in Mallinckrodt and Holmes Lounge, and can be another way to eat well. Like with Subway sandwiches, forgo all the fattening condiments and cheese and stick to the basics: meat and veggies. Wraps are also good for those of you on low-carb diets, like Atkins or South Beach.

It’s hard to avoid walking to Ursa’s and getting ice cream when you need to satisfy a craving for sweets, but if you can hold off, your body will thank you later. If your sweet tooth is chanting “ice cream!” get frozen yogurt instead. Frozen yogurt proves a “a tasty alternative to high-fat, high-calorie ice cream,” says junior Alex Rechlin. You can get “froyo” at the Hilltop Bakery or the self-serve machine in Bear Mart-just be sure to hold off from the tempting toppings, like Oreos, M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces.

The food court in the basement of Mallinckrodt also offers roast chicken and sushi, both of which are healthy in moderation. If you can comfortably forego Taco Bell and pizza, these might be viable options.

Finally, sometimes it pays off to be creative. Order a pizza from Bear’s Den with no cheese and vegetables and spices instead. Or take out frozen dinners from Bear Mart. Grab fruit from the salad bar in Mallinckrodt as a snack. Maybe browse Center Court, sticking to the plain basics: baked potatoes, grilled chicken, steamed vegetables and so forth. Have fun, use your imagination, and good luck!

Popularity: 1% [?]

 Print This Post

This entry was posted on Monday, November 8th, 2004 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.