Sometimes healthy and Baker just don’t go together. Some nights you can’t seem to find just one healthy, AND delicious things to eat! Other days they have fish, turkey, and good healthy foods. However, if you’re ever in a health rut and need some inspiration, here are some tips and tricks for eating healthier at Baker!
1) Skip the salad dressings and try something else.
If the idea of eating spinach seems to much to handle without coating it with dressing, try something else! I personally enjoy using fruit from the smoothie bar, especially raspberries and mangoes to top my spinach. The juice from the fruit acts as a dressing and it tastes even better than dressing!
2) Use the stir fry to your advantage.
After a while the traditional stir fry with the teriyaki sauce can get boring. Try using the ingredients offered at the stir fry line to create a new dish! Here’s an example: make shrimp Alfredo by putting broccoli, onions, spinach, and red peppers in the stir fry bowl, ask for double shrimp, and then use the Alfredo sauce from the spaghetti area to top the dish. You can also make a healthy chicken parmesan by getting chicken, broccoli, and spinach from the stir fry line and topping it with marinara.
3) Check the nutritional values before you eat.
Either check the nutritional values on the Sodexo website or check out the boards that display the nutritional value of each dish before you enter. You definitely will be surprised at how healthy or unhealthy some dishes can be!
4) Take a piece of fruit, a cup of veggies, or a cup of Cheerios.
You should eat every 2-3 hours to keep your metabolism rolling throughout the day. However, you should stick to snacks that fuel your body. A muffin from Jitters won’t exactly do that. A banana, apple, veggies, or a cup of Cheerios are healthy snacks that will hold you over until lunch or dinner.
5) Eat wisely.
For most students, the dining hall is social time. This is fine as long you eat your meal and socialize, not socialize for hours on end while also eating for hours on end. Sometimes we tend to eat more and not realize we’re full when we’re eating and talking with friends.
6) Don’t eat facing the desserts or ice cream bar.
This goes back to the idea, “out of sight, out of mind.” If you are staring at the counter filled with cookies, cake, and pastries, you will be more likely to eat dessert after your meal. Go up to the platform and admire the beautiful views of the mountain instead of the views of the double chocolate cake.
7) Use spices!
The right spice can turn any ordinary meal into a delicious one! Pepper and salt are obvious ways to add taste to meals; however, try using the oregano from the spaghetti area or the turmeric from the stir fry line. Spices and herbs will add so much more flavor to any dish!
(Photo Credits: bonappetit.com)
8) Create a healthier breakfast.
There are actually a lot of breakfast options if you think about it, but some of these options aren’t the best if you’re looking to eat a healthy breakfast. Try using the hard boiled eggs and just eating the egg whites. Also, take advantage of the fruit at the smoothie bar. Fruit has fiber so it will keep you full until lunch! Try to limit breakfast foods like waffles, sausage, and bacon. These foods are high in fat and can make you feel sluggish later on in the day.
(Photo Credits: pintrest.com)
9) Pack on the fiber!
If there is one thing I know for sure, it is that fiber keeps you feel! Sometimes it makes you feel too full! Therefore, eat foods like beans, fruit, and dark green vegetables. These foods will keep you satisfied and full.
(Photo Credits: dancingcarrots.com)
10) The 20 Minute Rule.
Studies everywhere show that your brain takes about twenty minutes to recognize how much food you have eaten and if you are full. If you are still hungry after twenty minutes, go ahead and eat more. Just eat slowly and savor your meal!