7 Tips For Navigating The D-Halls Successfully
Ah, my good ol' buddy, the Freshman 15. I don't know about you guys, but we've been friends for a looong time. It's no secret that as soon as we begin college, we leave behind Mom's Sunday eggplant parmesan and head for the unlimited pizzas, burgers, and ice cream sundaes in the D-halls. Although we're now "adults," many college students (at least for a time) are at the mercy of their dining halls due to their fast, convenient options. For me at least, I was riding the #strugglebus freshman year as I was unsure with what, when, and how much to eat. Of course, the struggle included late-night snacking, binge-eating carbs and a fair amount of weight gain. I realized that with a plethora of food options across campus, it's important to be able to navigate the dining halls to determine what is best for us physically and mentally. So, here are some of my favorite tips I've gathered from nutrition blogs, friends, my own experiences and, of course, the maternal unit.
1. Know What You're Eating
Photo courtesy of the University of Michigan Housing website
Even if you're not counting calories, it's good to look at the nutrition info listed with each meal. You can decide whether going for another bowl of French fries is worth the sodium risk or whether that one tofu dish is enough to satisfy your protein at lunch. The University also does a great job breaking down nutritional info.
2. Rethink Your Drink
D-halls are usually filled with sugary and overly-processed drinks, such as sweetened teas and sodas. Instead of these beverages, drinking water is a great alternative to help you manage your calories at mealtime.
3. Balance Your Plate(s)
Photo by Parisa Soraya
A proper food balance is often overlooked when eating in the D-Halls. Start your plate with one main carbohydrate (pasta, rice or sandwiches) and fill up the rest with veggies and protein (eggs, meat, beans, etc.).
4. Make Requests
Photo by Parisa Soraya
Since D-Hall meals are part of a weekly rotation, the options can soon start to look too familiar and boring. Don't think that you always have to choose pre-made plates. Try choosing whole wheat vs. white bread on that sandwich. Opt for an extra scoop of grilled veggies. Switch up your toppings on your salads. Get creative! (Trust me, it'll be the most fun you have before that hour and a half lecture).
5. Snax on Snax on Snax
Photo by Parisa Soraya
Constantly eating small snacks throughout the day will not only boost your metabolism, but also curb hunger and overeating at mealtime. Go for yummy, nutritional snacks like apples with peanut butter, hummus with crackers or granola.
6. Treat Yo' Self
Photo by Parisa Soraya
Reward yourself with that ooey, gooey s'more brownie you've had your heart set on (JK, D-Halls don't make stuff that well...). For real though, don't be afraid to pleasure yourself (not like that, perv!). Just remember: moderation is key.
7. Eat Slow, But Fast
Eat your meals slowly so you feel full faster and are less likely to overeat. At the same time, eat quickly when socializing with friends so that you don't linger and cave into your temptation to eat more.
Hopefully, you and I both will be able to use a few of these tips in our everyday trips to the dining halls and pat ourselves on the back for following through with our New Year's Resolutions.
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