Whether or not you’ve suffered from the freshman 15, sometimes healthy dining hall options can be hard. When there’s pancakes, bacon, and french toast every day, these tasty options are tempting. While that’s a great breakfast in moderation, sometimes you need some healthier options for the mornings! Here are just a few options that (most) dining halls hopefully have available in the morning.
Egg & Toast
This is a fairly basic option, but can be dressed up in a lot of ways. Most dining halls have bread and a toaster available somewhere. Experts seem to be debating still whether or not wheat bread is actually better for you than white bread (Bon Appetit), but I prefer the less processed taste of wheat bread. If you’re lucky, your dining hall will have arugula or spinach, which I pop on top of the freshly toasted bread. Then, sprinkle a bit of cheddar cheese on top of that, throw your egg option on top, whether it’s scrambled, fried, or hard-boiled. Mash it all down with a fork and top with pepper. You get some great greens, protein from the cheese and eggs, and it looks beautiful and tastes great.
Peanut Butter Banana Toast
Start the same as before – stick some toast in the toaster, your choice of bread. Toast as desired. Slather peanut butter on the bread. Sun butter is another great option, as is almond butter, if you have allergies, or if your dining hall doesn’t provide peanut butter due to other’s allergies. Slice up a banana and throw it all on top. If there’s coffee in your dining hall and it has honey, drizzle a little bit of that on top, too. Peanut butter provides protein, the banana gives you potassium, and the honey helps your sweet tooth when pancakes and syrup are calling your name.
Yogurt, Fruit and Granola
You can’t go wrong with yogurt, fruit and granola. Some campuses have Greek yogurt, which is full of protein to start off your day right, but if not, vanilla normal yogurt works great, too. Grapes are fairly typical dining hall fair that pairs great with yogurt and granola, but if these aren’t available, the various kinds of melons that are cheap are awesome. If you’re really lucky, you might get some strawberries, blackberries, blackberries, or blueberries.
Bagel & Cream Cheese
The most basic of breakfasts, at least in my opinion, but the best of the basics. With this, cream cheese starts your day off with a bit of protein. If you fear carbs, maybe make this a once a week option. It’s great toasted, but also perfectly acceptable as a grab and go. Maybe grab an apple or banana on the way out, too, and you’re set.
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