Campus dining halls serve as the primary source of meals for many students, especially freshmen, at the University of Georgia. At such a pivotal time of life, healthy eating is important, but can fall to the wayside amid the other responsibilities of college life. Here are some ways students at UGA can make the most of their meal plans to meet their nutritional needs.
Build Your Plate
UGA Dining Services offers students the opportunity to plan their meals through an application called Build Your Plate, where users can see the ingredients, nutritional and allergen information for the various food items served at UGA’s five dining halls.
The application is organized by dining hall, as well as the breakfast, lunch and dinner options offered at each location. By adding menu items to their “plate” and checking the total nutrition values for the items they choose, students can utilize this resource to maximize their meal plan.
Nutrition Services
According to the UGA Dining Services Website, students on the UGA meal plan also have the option to utilize the nutrition and dietitian services that UGA offers.
Nutrition counseling is available with UGA Dining Services Registered Dietitians, where meal plan students with food allergies, specialized diets and nutritional medical conditions can receive dietary guidance through free private consultations, according to the UGA Dining Services website.
Some dining halls also have Nutrition Education Stations that are equipped with iPads for students to look up nutrition and allergen information for recipes on the menu, along with nutrition handouts, displays and recipe cards, according to the UGA Dining Services website.
Eating Smart Course
UGA is holding a free “Eating Smart Course” for meal plan students at Bolton Dining Commons on Wednesdays, Feb. 5, 12 and 19 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., led by Katherine Ingerson, associate director of nutrition services for UGA Dining Services, along with Bolton Dining Commons Chef Brandi Hancock and dietetic intern Alyssa Johnson. These classes will cover topics including how students can eat healthy at UGA dining halls, how to eat for heart health and debunking nutrition myths, Ingerson wrote in an email to The Red & Black.
According to Ingerson’s email to The R&B, each class will also feature cooking tips from Chef Brandi, and students will also be able to ask her questions while she cooks for the class. The “Eating Smart Course” is offered every semester.
Providing feedback
According to Ingerson’s email to The R&B, UGA Dining Services collects feedback from students through comment cards, emails, social media, focus groups, an annual customer survey and direct feedback to managers, chefs and staff. Actions to implement this feedback have included expanding offerings, adding menu items and adjusting recipes.
UGA’s variety of food and nutritional resources can guide students in making healthy and balanced choices that fulfill both their needs and their wants.
