Dorm Eating

Becoming a college student means experiencing new freedoms and responsibilities. You are free to create your own daily eating habits, however, you are also responsible for creating habits on a tight budget, tight schedule, and possibly a lack of kitchen space. This new stage in life can be difficult to navigate when balancing eating nutrient dense meals, going out for ice cream with your friends, and staying up late to study for an exam. The goal of today’s blog is to inform you of ways to create an environment in which you have easily accessible nutrient dense snacks and meals throughout your dorm room.

A nutrient dense snack may be just what you are needing whether you are feeling hungry in between meals or need some energy while staying up late to study for an exam. Fulfilling snack options to keep on hand in your dorm room are:

• Hummus to pair with whole grain crackers, cucumber slices, carrots, or celery sticks 

• Nut butter to pair with celery sticks, a banana, or apple slices 

• Rice cakes to top with hummus or nut butter 

• Greek yogurt to pair with fruit and nuts 

Ideal cooking in a dorm space includes little effort, little supplies, and little money. Be sure to balance ratios of smart protein, vegetables, quality carbohydrates, and legumes when creating your dorm meals. (View the UofL Smart Plate @ louisville.edu/healthpromotion to learn more about balancing your plate) Simple food options to keep on hand in your refrigerator, freezer, or pantry could consist of frozen grilled chicken strips, frozen vegetables, pre-cooked brown rice in a microwavable packet, whole grain tortillas, oatmeal, nut butter, and fruit. You can utilize these food options by: 

• Adding nut butter and fruit to your oatmeal for breakfast

• Microwaving your frozen vegetables, frozen grilled chicken strips, and pre-cooked brown rice for dinner

• Putting your leftover vegetables, grilled chicken strips, and brown rice into a whole grain tortilla wrap with fruit on the side for a lunch on the go. 

*If you are vegan or vegetarian, you can replace the grilled chicken strips with canned tuna or garbanzo beans. 

Additional supplies you may find useful are:

• Reusable plastic food containers 

• Reusable utensils 

• Condiments 

Keep in mind that creating your daily eating habits with these new freedoms and responsibilities is a learning process. All of the nutrient dense snacks and meals listed above should be used to fuel your mind and body for everyday life, however, you should also eat more calorically dense foods that you enjoy in portions to fuel your mind and body as well. We hope you enjoyed learning about simple ways to create an environment in which you have easily accessible nutrient dense snacks and meals throughout your dorm room. Be sure to return for next weeks blog if you are interested in learning about food and nutrition!