advice for eating healthy in college dining halls?

heyimhayley
heyimhayley Posts: 49
in Food and Nutrition
First of all, I know this isn't an introduction board, but I'm new here and looking for some advice. Basically I used to figure everyone gains weight when they come to college and didn't take what I ate too seriously. Which turned into huge portions of unhealthy food plus snacking all the time. (WHY does the food in the dining halls have to be so good?! And without a mother nagging about fruits and veggies all the time... you get what happened). I realized I need to do something about this when I finally weighed myself and realized I'm up not 15, but TWENTY FIVE pounds from when I came to college. Also, although I've never been happy with my body, this is the first time that I'm officially overweight at a BMI of 26.5.
So basically, I need advice on how I can lose 25-30 pounds with my college dining hall food being essentially my only option? I already go to the gym pretty much daily.
Thanks! :)

Replies

  • hattie491145
    hattie491145 Posts: 85 Member
    What sort of meals are they serving? What are your choices?
  • heyimhayley
    heyimhayley Posts: 49
    When looking for healthy options, there are some vegetable choices. But other than that there's a pizza station, burger station, omelete station, mashed potatoes, rice, pastas, whole wheat or regular...yeah I feel like that's it. (also, I'm a vegetarian)
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    When looking for healthy options, there are some vegetable choices. But other than that there's a pizza station, burger station, omelete station, mashed potatoes, rice, pastas, whole wheat or regular...yeah I feel like that's it. (also, I'm a vegetarian)

    Just be mindful of your portions, go easy on the soda and take advantage of the university gym. I had you beat though, I gained about 35lbs my frosh yr of college
  • heyimhayley
    heyimhayley Posts: 49
    I don't drink soda anyway and I do use the gym almost every day, but the portions I will be looking out for. Like I may have been fine if I had 1 cookie a day instead of 3 per meal... oops.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    College guide to eating healthy.

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/10/18/a-college-guide-to-eating-healthy/
  • eyeliner128
    eyeliner128 Posts: 19 Member
    If you drink nothing but water or no-calorie drinks (diet stuff) then you'll cut a lot of calories just like that. Steer away from those stations in the dining hall and towards the soup and salad bar. Also, fruits and yogurts and cereals are good options. Those are mainly what I eat when I eat at school. Also you could set aside time to spend more time in the gym or in the pool.
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    Eating out or in dining halls can be tough, the single biggest calorie loader is a breaded and fried item. The fat from frying is a hit, and then the breading (flour is very calorie dense) is another hit. Stay clear of breaded and fried and soda and you're golden!
  • samf36
    samf36 Posts: 369 Member
    My daughter eats off the salad bar quite a bit at her college. She said the food is so bad she has a hard time finding items to eat.
  • medennison123
    medennison123 Posts: 191 Member
    I eat at my college dining hall for every meal. I like to have 3-4 different meals that my dining hall is guaranteed to have and simply rotate them to keep it fresh. For example for lunch I have grilled chicken, green vegetable, and an egg salad sandwich every day. When I want to switch it up I eat steak instead of chicken or a wrap instead of sandwich. I eat very cleanly no, pizza, fries, hamburgers, that sort of thing.

    I don't use a food scale or a cup measure. What has helped me is setting my goal, ex. to lose .5 lbs a week. So I would eat the same food at consistent portions. If I am gaining weight instead of losing then my eying of food is too high and I adjust somewhere. If I am losing too quickly then I will allow myself an extra banana here or a oatmeal there.

    Over the summer when I'm at home I use a scale and measurements to make sure I am hitting my numbers. So I know what 5oz of chicken looks like. Rate now i am trying to lean bulk at school i have hit my numbers, gaining 1.5 lbs a month. So if you are consistent you can make it work.
  • medennison123
    medennison123 Posts: 191 Member
    Do give yourself some rest days and "cheat" day. Don't go all out, but one day where you allow yourself to have a night out with your friends with nothing hanging over your head about logging every little piece of food you eat is a good thing.
  • hiker359
    hiker359 Posts: 577 Member
    I know you're not trying to build muscle, but in this video there's a lot of awesome recommendations on how to get out of the college dining hall and eat at home. Much better for you to cook yourself:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efriX02Qyh8
  • mfp_1
    mfp_1 Posts: 516 Member
    Breakfast:
    porridge made with water - 30 seconds in the microwave. Job done.
    or better still:
    oatbran made with water - 30 seconds in the microwave.
  • otrlynn
    otrlynn Posts: 273 Member
    As others have said, the salad bar can be your friend. Load up with greens and other fresh vegetables and add a low fat protein such as chick peas, black beans, hard boiled egg, or cheese (but watch the quantity on the cheese). Either choose the low fat dressing or use a splash of balsamic vinegar and just a little bit of oil. Soups are fairly good filling and low cal choices if they are not creamed soups. Omelettes are pretty low in cals and high in protein if you have a veggie omelette and skip the added cheese. I honestly don't think you have to skip the pizza, just have one piece and a salad. Skip the desserts unless it is a special occasion. Grab an apple instead.
  • missprincessgina
    missprincessgina Posts: 446 Member
    My university has an awesome salad bar, it is great. I eat it everyday for lunch (MON-FRI)
  • NaturallyOlivia
    NaturallyOlivia Posts: 496 Member
    become vegan.

    LOL just kidding but nothing fried, and eat as many fruits and veggies as possible. Try and cut back on the meat as much as your cab too. more often than not it isn't prepared very healthy ( fried, with butter, etc.) and we don't need near the amount of meat we consume at any given meal, in my opinion anyway.
  • cgfol1
    cgfol1 Posts: 179 Member
    If you drink nothing but water or no-calorie drinks (diet stuff) then you'll cut a lot of calories just like that. Steer away from those stations in the dining hall and towards the soup and salad bar. Also, fruits and yogurts and cereals are good options. Those are mainly what I eat when I eat at school. Also you could set aside time to spend more time in the gym or in the pool.

    Stay away from all diet drinks! I found when I stopped drinking Diet Coke and swapped to just water and tea that the weight just fell away. Yeah it's boring but it was a very quick transformation!!

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