Although many students do not gain the entire "freshman 15," studies show that most college students do gain a significant amount of weight during their first year. To battle this gain and promote better food choices, the Ohio State dining halls are making an effort to offer healthful food options for students.
"Fresh Express and MarketPlace are two favorite spots for students … because they have some of the healthiest options available, and I would say that dining services have more healthy options now than they ever have before," said Janele Bayless, the nutritional wellness coordinator at the student wellness center said.
For students looking to watch their weight, salads tend to be the obvious choice, especially because dining halls such as Fresh Express offer more than 30 different types of toppings.
Bayless encourages students to take advantage of toppings such as diced chicken, vegetables, fruits and beans to add more nutrients and food groups to a plain salad of leafy greens.
Sandwiches offered at dining halls can also be nutritious when made with smart food choices.
"Whole wheat bread just has more nutrients typically than white bread does," Bayless said. "Select that and leaner cuts of meat like turkey and chicken, maybe some cheeses that are a little lower in fat and calories like mozzarella and provolone, and use condiments like mustard versus mayonnaise."
Nutrition aside, Bayless said students often make the mistake of overeating.
"The portion size is what a lot of students struggle with," she said.
The solution, Bayless said, is simply to listen to one's body.
"People could technically gain weight even if they are eating lettuce because it has to do with calories, so listen to your body's hunger cues," Bayless said. "If you're hungry, it's good to go ahead and eat. If you're not hungry, there's technically no reason to eat."
Bayless recommends that students avoid drinking soda, energy drinks and flavored coffees, which can all have a high caloric value.
To find vegetarian, vegan or low fat meals, visit www.diningservices.osu.edu or go to the Student Wellness Center Web site, www.swc.osu.edu, to set up a nutritional counseling appointment.
Megan Laney can be reached at laney.19@osu.edu.
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