How To: The Balanced Diet of Champions [Newman Style]

This year I plan to write a biweekly “How To” column for Bag of Chips, including issues and topics that I feel would be relevant to you both as college students and Newman residents. My hope is that the column not only entertains you but provides you with some useful info and gives you insight on a variety of topics you may have never considered before.

With that said, I would love to hear your feedback. What type of stuff would you like to learn “how to” do? E-mail me any of your thoughts and you may just see your suggestion posted (properly accredited, of course).

Now to the important stuff: what we will learn “how to” do this week. Whether this is your first experience with Newman’s Dining Hall or your third year eating fried chicken and biscuits for lunch on Wednesday, we could all use a few reminders on how to maintain a healthy diet in college. Yes, most of us will grab the chocolate chip cookie instead of the apple and it is important to remember that is okay…sometimes. We often are not aware of the nutrients we need to keep our body healthy and give us the energy we need to crank out those papers at 1:00 a.m. on a Tuesday. Now I am not hear to preach about eating 5 servings of veggies a day and avoiding refined sugars, but I am hear to teach “How to eat healthy in the Newman Dining Hall.”

1. Be Creative with all the options: We are spoiled at Newman…really. We have so many great options at each meal that it may be hard to choose just one (and therefore you choose all of them). I suggest you get creative with the various food choices and create your own meal. For example, when there is grilled chicken in the Home Classics line, cut it up over a healthy salad full of veggies from the Garden of Eden. Or add heart-healthy olive oil, veggies, and parmesan cheese to your spaghetti noodles instead of meat sauce one night. Yes, it may take some additional preparation, but you will get additional nutrients and add variety to your diet.

2. Moderation, Moderation, Moderation: Did you know that a typical serving of meat should be the size of a deck of cards? I would be willing to bet most of us eat far more than that in one meal. Our culture has taught us that more is better; but when it comes to food that should not always be the case. It is quite a challenge to restrain how much food we eat, especially when we have the ability to put as much as we want on our plates. One helpful tip is using a smaller sized plate or bowl for the not-so-healthy items, which will help you naturally take a smaller portion. Or instead of taking an entire waffle for yourself, split it with a friend at breakfast and then have a piece of fruit and yogurt with it. You do not need to go cold turkey and avoid all greasy and fatty foods; that is unrealistic and will likely just make you eat more in the end. Just watch your portions and try to fill your plate with the more nutritious choices.

3. Eat Breakfast: Yep, mom told you it everyday in high school…and I’m telling you now. Eat breakfast! College students are notorious for waking up 7 minutes before class starts and running out the door without getting any nutrition in their body. Eating breakfast will allow you to focus in class and will also jump start your metabolism for the day. Research has proven that breakfast-eaters typically maintain a healthier weight than those who do not eat breakfast. If you have the time, stop by the dining hall (before 9:30 when they stop serving breakfast!) before class for a bowl of cereal and yogurt or scrambled eggs and toast with peanut butter. And if you are running late, you can always grab a piece of fruit and a granola bar with a to-go cup full of orange juice. Not only will you be more alert in class, but you will not be famished and overeat when lunch time rolls around.

I could go on and on forever with this list, but when it really just comes down to it, EAT SMART. You know what is healthy and what is not, you know if your pants start fitting a little tighter to maybe back off the 3 pieces of pizza a day. But you also know that it is not a good idea to deprive yourself and eat ONLY healthy things. I hope my advice has been useful to you and that you truly enjoy your breakfast, lunch, and dinners at Newman Hall. Bon appetite!

-Ashley

*Editors note: Comments can be emailed to bagofchipsnews@gmail.com.