Heather Rockwood is a food science junior and Mustang Daily food columnist.
As a PolyRep, I am privileged to have the opportunity to show students and parents around Cal Poly’s campus. I am asked a myriad of questions, and presented with many myths regarding college life that I must debunk. One of the largest misconceptions all visitors have is that it is impossible to eat healthy while living in the dorms and dining on campus.
As a matter of fact, that is a misconception held widely by many students on campus, along with the complaint that it is too difficult and expensive to make healthy choices. As a junior Campus Dining and dorm veteran, I can attest to the fact that these statements just aren’t true.
Yes, sometimes choosing the healthier options on campus and preparing satisfying meals in the dorms can seem like a lot of work to the untrained eye, but with a little ingenuity, a little practice and a few helpful tips, eating healthy on campus is a secret that is about to be exposed.
The first step to healthy dorm eating is to not make any foods here forbidden. By declaring certain foods unhealthy and notorious for frequenting college campuses — such as bacon cheeseburgers, ice cream, French fries and meat lover’s pizza — as forbidden, you inadvertently create an even larger desire for that food, and thus will have a harder time not eating it.
If history has taught us anything, it is that mankind (especially those who just received more freedom than they have ever had) loves that which it cannot have. So, don’t make things any harder than you already think they are when trying to eat healthy. That being said, I am not promoting a weekly habit of consuming the above mentioned foods — it’s all right to indulge in them every once in a while, but don’t make these staple go-to foods.
Now that you have an unrestricted diet, what food choices should you focus on that contribute to a healthy diet? Most people have heard about the food pyramid and have some idea of the foods that should be populating their dinner plate to promote healthy living, so I will not go into too much detail of what healthy eating means. Instead I will highlight foods and cooking methods that are quick and easy to prepare in a kitchen less 11 foot by 13 foot room.
One of the easiest choices for a quick and healthy snack on campus is fresh fruits and veggies. These fruits and veggies cannot only be found at Campus Market and Village Market, but also at quick stops such as The Avenue, Sandwich Factory and other Campus Dining complexes. These eateries all take Plu$ Dollars, so you won’t need to travel to a local grocery store or spend any extra money to fill up the fruit basket.
The key here is to switch things up to keep from boring your taste buds and getting burnt out. If one week you only grab apples, oranges, carrots and celery from The Avenue, next week try mangos, kiwis, edamame and sweet peas from Campus Market. If you still want more variety and want to stay on campus, look into the Cal Poly U-Pick program.
A rookie mistake often made by new freshmen is not using their meal credit to the fullest. When using a meal credit on campus you get up to a certain set amount of money — so, if you still have 70 cents left after picking out your dinner, use the extra to buy a 65-cent fruit for tomorrow’s snack. This way you save yourself from needlessly using Plu$ Dollars later to buy the same fruit from an eatery that does not accept meal credits. All too many freshmen either waste that 70 cents by not purchasing anything or add to their temptations by grabbing another candy bar at every meal.
Now for prepping food in the dorms. Although there is a kitchen, it is rather small and must be shared with all residents of the dorms, so it is nice to know how to prep study snacks in the comfort of your own room. Immediately you think your options are limited to only boxed foods, Cup Noodles and the fresh fruits/veggies mentioned before. However, you would be surprised about the lesser known options available.
As previously mentioned, do not forbid foods such as Cup Noodles, but do be cautious as these foods are high in sodium and convenience is not enough to mask the lowered nutritional state. Instead, look for canned soups low in sodium and rich in other nutrients such as Amy’s Soup. You could even add some brown rice (left over from 19Metro Station the night before).
One key to healthy eating is knowing just what it is you are eating. If you make your own food, you know what goes into it and have the ability to keep certain health goals in mind. The trouble in college is many students do not think they will have the time or possess the skills to prepare their own snacks and meals, so they tend to purchase already prepared food. Don’t shy away from cooking only because you think you don’t have the means. Look to the best college tool for cooking — the microwave: it is quick, easy and conveniently found right in the dorms.
There are cookbooks dedicated just to cooking with microwaves, which can serve as a thoughtful and useful housewarming gift for your new roommate. Sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, artichokes and many other veggies can be quickly prepared by being placed in the microwave. Oatmeal, millet and couscous are all grains that can also be quickly cooked with ease in the microwave.
So, all those recipes you thought were once restricted to a kitchen can now be explored through use of the microwave. Even omelets can be created in the microwave — the possibilities are endless.
Although there are many other tips with keeping health in mind and striving for satisfying food on campus, I will present just one more.
College is about stepping out and learning to live on your own. It is nice to get some guidance and help, but if I give you all the answers to what and where to eat on campus it becomes more like rules, and let’s face it, rules just tempt us to break them. So, explore and own your healthy eating habits here at Cal Poly, and remember this last piece of advice.
When looking at all the food options here on campus, look at them as if they were puzzle pieces, not already set in stone. If you look at each food individually you can mix and match the pieces each day to create a plethora of variety and flavor. The steamed veggies at Vista Grande do not have to be just a side to the turkey, they can be taken back to the dorm and added to pasta to create a pasta salad for tomorrow’s lunch. The beans at the salad bar don’t have to go into a salad, you could put some cheese on them, pop them into the microwave and dip chips into them for a late night study snack. The sliced ham served at 19 Metro Station for dinner can be used the next morning for an omelet.
Like I said, the possibilities are endless — college living does not discourage healthy eating, it presents an opportunity for you to challenge yourself and piece together your own style of healthy eating.