Healthy Diet Meals At Emerson College You Need To Know
A lot of people fear the infamous “Freshman Fifteen” when entering their freshman year of college. There are so many more opportunities to fall off the healthy diet meals routine you may have had in place throughout high school. Late night binge-ing at the Max, Blaze pizza nights, and inhaling Top Ramen are many of the not-so-healthy food choices you will be presented throughout college. Although they aren’t healthy, don’t punish yourself for indulging in them every now and then. It is all a part of the experience.
Assorted Vegetables
A lot of people think that there are no healthy options at the Dining Hall. This could not be more false. Although it may not be up to the bougie Instagram standards of healthy food and is plated much more plainly, there are a lot more available options to take advantage of, and you should. Especially if you are worried about gaining the freshman fifteen.
Stir-Fry Station
Although it is not open on the weekends (this NEEDS to change) the vegan stir-fry station is a great healthy alternative. You can pick any veggies you want from the salad station, bring it to the chef, add your choice of rice, rice noodles, or quinoa with a variety of sauces and voilà! A yummy fresh meal! They also give you a decent portion of the finished product, unlike other stations that ration a little too much in my opinion… a win-win!
Eat Your Greens
Of course, you can never go wrong with the salad bar. Sometimes just eating a salad can be boring (or at least it is for me) so I throw in some of the pasta offered at the pizza station to spruce it up a little. Anything to get those greens in. Another fun way to spruce up a salad is by putting the goldfish that is seemingly always available by the salad bar on top of your salad… seriously who requested that? I have so many questions.
Allergy-Free Station
The allergy-free station located at the lower level of the DH is a good option to get a healthier meal. They usually serve lean meats and vegetables there. In general, at either the top or lower stations be mindful of your portion size and what you are eating… the DH is always serving up some sort of veggie… take advantage of it! This is one of the most important options for healthy diet meals!
Paramount Cafe
For those of you that have the meal plan that is heavier on board bucks, there are healthier alternatives at the Max and the Paramount Cafe as well. P-cafe also has delicious stir-fries to partake in, and the Max has veggie burgers (super yummy even if you aren’t a vegetarian). In addition, there are fruit and veggies located in the refrigerated portion of the Max as well. They also have those huge vegan protein cookies that make for a nice guilt-free sweet treat. Or you can get a pre-made salad ready to go for dinner, but in my opinion I would recommend getting a salad from the Dining Hall instead.
Your health is important. Especially when you are away at school for the first time. You are shoved into a new living situation, surrounded by people what feels like all the time and you are bound to get sick, and one of the best ways to prevent getting sick is to have a healthy diet. But you can make things a little bit easier for yourself if you do everything you can to keep yourself healthy. The simplest way to do that is to watch what you eat.
