At home this summer, away from the lure of Ursa’s ice cream and late night snacks in Bear’s Den, I lost 26 pounds. Unfortunately, my happiness was weakened by the creeping realization that once I returned to the University in the fall, I would be faced with the ultimate test: campus food. A year at school had taught me that to truly eat healthy at Washington University, and to avoid an abundance of saturated fats and excessive carbohydrates, I would need extreme resourcefulness and creativity.
My eating habits over the summer had changed drastically: my diet limited (but did not eliminate) carbohydrates, restricted excessive fats and mandated that I eat six small meals a day, high in protein and moderate in calories. Common sense told me that once I returned to school, my schedule and eating options on campus would not allow me to continue my routine. I fully intended to change my diet to one of simple moderation (limiting calories and excessive fats).
When I arrived on campus, however, I realized that not only was Bon Appetit’s food selection predictably unsuitable for my original, low-carb, low-fat, high-protein diet-it was unsuitable for any healthy eating plan.
I discovered that the only foods in Bear’s Den that fit my original diet were plain salads (Bear’s Den’s dressing is notoriously fattening) and fruit. Even the grilled chicken, which had become central to my summer eating habits, was not ideal-it was marinated in canola oil and salt. If I wanted a healthy side dish with my chicken, Bear’s Den might have grilled vegetables, but it depended on the day of the week.
Breakfast was a nightmare. Bear’s Den offered egg and cheese croissants, muffins, and breakfast burritos, none of which are ideal for a person trying to eat healthy. To be fair, they also had a selection of fruit. An apple, however, would probably fail to hold anyone over until lunch.
The choices (quesadillas, cheeseburgers, pasta) were fattening, and the portion sizes were too large. Even with my newfound self-control, I knew it would be impossible to follow my diet as strictly as I could at home. Any attempt would be doomed to failure and repetition. Unhealthy food on campus no longer tempted me because of its taste; it tempted me because I had few other options.
For those students lacking nutritional knowledge and looking either to become fit or maintain their weight, the food selection can be frustrating and defeating. There are ways to eat healthy, but they are complicated, requiring time and research. Who can know just by looking at the large grilled vegetable salad that it contains 605 calories and 40 grams of fat?
Eating well on campus (not only for the benefit of your outward appearance, but for the health of your heart) requires a level of commitment and restraint for which most students don’t have the time or energy. The portion size, the caloric content and the amount of saturated fat in on-campus eateries do not allow us to eat as responsibly as many of us need to. They lend themselves much too easily to weight gain, even for those with enough self-control to moderate their food intake.
I’ve heard it said that Bon App‚tit’s choice of foods is to be expected: college students don’t want to eat healthily; they want pizza and quesadillas at 2 o’clock in the morning, not fruit or grilled vegetables. That assessment, in general, may ring true. But our school cannot encourage us to stay fit and eat well for the general health of our bodies and minds while filling Small Group’s eatery with fried chicken fingers and a glass case full of cheesecake.
If Bon App‚tit cannot provide students with a more abundant selection of healthy foods, they should, at the least, make their nutritional information more accessible. Facts are hard to find through the school’s nutrition and health Web site, and students are unable to calculate the individual components of their meals. Information on quesadillas and salads is calculated with a set selection of toppings. The Web site, like the Web sites of many chain restaurants, should provide a way to calculate specific meals. Additionally, pamphlets with nutritional information should be present in the dining areas.
There is an epidemic of obesity in our country, and while we are each ultimately responsible for our own eating habits, we cannot be held responsible for choices made for lack of better options, or for being ignorant of information withheld from us.