Sara Awad, Staff Writer
Sometimes it takes effort for students to maintain healthy, balanced diets while on campus, where the only things catching their eyes are hamburgers and pizza.
According to Lisa Eberhart, Dining and Catering Operations’ registered dietician, the truth is that students need variety. Eberhart stressed the importance of students learning what foods are available to them and becoming more adventurous eaters. She and other members of NC State Dining agree that eating a seemingly healthy grilled chicken salad at every meal will cause students to lose out on other nutrients and elements the body needs to survive.
With the help of NC State Dining, the following list of on-campus food items attempts to show students possible items they can incorporate in their diet. Please note these show the possibilities of what you can put on your plate and may not suit your individual dietary needs and goals.
In addition, moderation is key with any of these options, according to Eberhart. For example, removing sauce or dressing for certain items means sacrificing the flavor of the eating experience, which, in terms of the calories or grams of fat you will save, may not be worth the cost. As such, students should think of the following items as healthy swaps only, according to Michelle Borges, NC State Dining Nutrition Department Coordinator. For nutritional advice, please make a free appointment with one of the nutritionists on campus. Read more.