One of the most feared college legends is the “Freshmen 15.” You probably thought that it would never happen to you, but somehow you find that your favorite jeans from high school just no longer fit the same way.
The only thing worse than the Freshmen 15 is the Sophomore 15. You’d think that by the beginning of your second year of college your anxiety levels would be lower, you would have adjusted to life away from home, and you would finally have a good workout schedule in place.
The truth is that the stress eating never ends and you’ll always find excuses to skip the gym. College can be hard, but making healthy choices at the dining hall doesn’t have to be! Here are a few of my personal favorite waistline-friendly meals and snacks from the dining halls:
1. Turkey and Cheese Bagel Sandwich
One of my favorite things in South Dining Hall is the panini maker. I know it sounds intimidating, but trust me it’s worth it in the end! Try making your very own bagel sandwich with turkey and provolone and toast it in the panini-maker for even more deliciousness. Don’t forget to pile on the lettuce and tomatoes to get in your veggies!
2. Chicken Breast and Hummus
Feeling extra weary around lunchtime? Eat some lean protein to recharge yourself before those afternoon classes! Try the grilled chicken breast with a side of hummus with a salad, and you’ll for sure be energized for the remainder of the day. Add some chocolate or skim milk for even more added protein.
3. Caesar Salad with Edamame
It took the length of my entire Freshmen year of college to perfect, but I have finally concocted what I think is the greatest salad combination possible in South Dining Hall. Take a big bowl for this one, and fill it with romaine lettuce. Next, add some tofu and my favorite ingredient, edamame. Edamame is low in calories and high in protein so don’t feel guilty about loading it up! Next, add some feta cheese, a few croutons, and a little bit of caesar dressing. Voila! There you have the greatest SDH Caesar salad.
4. Modified Chipotle Chicken Bowl
Craving Chipotle but don’t want to walk in the cold down to Eddy Street? No need to panic because you can make your own healthier version on campus for free! Fill a bowl with some brown rice, add some cheese and tomatoes from the salad bar, grab a grilled chicken breast, and if it’s fajita night you can even add beans and sour cream.
To learn more about the nutritional information of the dining hall foods, click here to look up individual foods. This nutrition calculator shows caloric intake, fat content, protein content and more, and you can even look up portion sizes. You can also find allergen information on Notre Dame’s Food Services website.
Building healthy habits can be difficult in college, but the payoff will be when you feel your best. Finding a healthy balance today will pave the way to a healthy lifestyle forever.
Follow Her Campus Notre Dame on Twitter and like us on Facebook!
Images: 1