Respect the Potato Day

Today is Respect the Potato Day in Dining Services.

Potato, you say? Let me guess, you have heard that potatoes are too high in carbs, starch, sugar, glycemic index?

Well, here is the good news: potatoes definitely fit into a healthy lifestyle. They are high in potassium and vitamin B6 and even contain phytochemicals. They have soluble and insoluble fiber. They are inexpensive and nutrient dense. They are naturally low in fat. And they are delicious!

If you're craving a potato, stop by Plaza Cafe's baked potato bar today. You can choose from an array of fun toppings - broccoli, 3-bean chili, cheese, bacon, green onions, black olives, salsa and sour cream. If you're trying to keep it healthy, try the baked potato topped with broccoli, salsa, onions, olives and a light sprinkle of cheese - yum!

And today is the last day of National Nutrition Month. I hope that you worked on establishing healthy habits during March that will carry into April and beyond.

Real Deal on Nutrition

Come by Canyon Vista today during lunch to get the Real Deal on Nutrition.

I will be at Canyon Vista serving the LiveWell meal, dishing about healthy nutrition and answering your nutrition questions.

Today's LiveWell meal at Canyon Vista:

Carved Turkey with Cranberry Chutney:

195 calories

1g fat

16g carbohydrates

2g fiber

29g protein

Fresh Herb and Veggie Garden

Dining Services' Executive Chef Vaughn Vargus along with Krista Mays, HDH's Sustainability Manager, have planted a garden on Revelle College to grow herbs and vegetables.

Dining will use the fresh herbs and produce in the restaurants on campus.

This garden is another effort by HDH to be sustainable and provide students with fresh, healthy, environmentally responsible options.

Yum!

Happy Spring Break!

UC San Diego is on Spring Break this week.

The Healthy Eating blog will return to regular posts next week.

For Dining Services hours of operation for our re-opening on Sunday, March 27th, please click: http://hdh.ucsd.edu/diningservices/hours.asp

Have a great Spring Break!

Happy St Patrick's Day! Join us for Corned Beef and Cabbage.

In honor of St Patty's day today, Dining Services will be serving Corned Beef and Cabbage with 2 sides for $6.50.

Did you know that Corned Beef and Cabbage is more an Irish-American tradition and not really found much in Ireland? The substitution was likely made by Irish immigrants due to the higher cost of the more traditional pork product as compared to the corned beef.

Wear your green and come de-stress from Finals with some Corned Beef and Cabbage!

Eat Right With Color, It's National Nutrition Month!

March is National Nutrition Month and this year's theme is Eat Right With Color.

Eating Right With Color can be accomplished by eating soup!

The picture to the right is of my vegan vegetable soup from Plaza Cafe. This soup contains several types of colors and veggies: green peas, white potatoes, orange carrots, yellow corn, green beans.

Soup is also soothing, particularly on a chilly day, and its volume tends to fill you up on fewer calories, which can be good if you're trying to lose weight.

You can find soup at every Dining Services' location. The healthier choices are broth-based (not cream-based) and contain a bunch of vegetables. Each restaurant serves at least one vegetarian soup daily.

If you have a favorite soup recipe, please send it to me! It will be considered for rotation into Dining's menu.

It's Finals Week - Stay Healthy!

It's FINALS WEEK!!!!!

I've spoken with several students today and here are some excerpts from what they shared with me about their Finals Week experience:

• "I didn't sleep at all last night"
• "Sometimes I study so much, I forget to eat"
• "When I'm stressed out, I eat greasy food"

Whereas you might not be surprised by these comments, they do highlight some of the ways that college students put themselves at increased risk for poor performance and/or illness during exam time.

What can you do to help with the stress of Finals Week?

• Eat regularly - don't skip meals! Your schedule this week may be different from class weeks but make sure you don't go too long without eating something.
• Sleep!!!! I know that this is one recommendation with which college students find it very difficult to comply.
• Eat healthy meals (like LiveWell meals!), fruits, vegetables
• Stay hydrated - water, milk, 100% juice, tea
• Practice deep breathing - try to relax
• Exercise - a great stress reliever