Like everything in life, practice makes perfect when it comes to eating healthy. Whether you have already established a healthy diet or you are just making a decision to eat healthier, living in a dorm room can present a few obstacles. With little more than a refrigerator and a microwave, students are left struggling to manage a healthy diet. Luckily, Jones has a large cafeteria and a wonderful staff.
All dorm students have access to the cafeteria and the option between two meal plans. The cafeteria has several sections: the classic side, the exhibition, a salad bar, a pizza station and a sandwich station. The classic side includes burgers, fries and a fresh cooked southern-style meal. The exhibition side has a pizza station and a bar where students can watch a member of the cafeteria staff prepare a meal. At the sandwich station, students can choose between a variety of breads, meats and toppings for their sandwiches. Finally, the salad bar is self service and also includes a soup every day. Healthy decisions can be made by limiting fries and pizza and opting for vegetables, fruits and lean meats.
If students choose to eat in their dorms rather than the cafeteria, healthy choices can be a bit more difficult to make. Not all dorm halls have kitchens, so many students are limited to a microwave and a refrigerator. Healthy options for students include water, popcorn, pretzels, hummus, tuna, peanut butter, yogurt, trail mix, oatmeal, canned soup and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Other ways for students to maintain a healthy lifestyle along with their healthy diet are getting enough sleep, working out two to three times a week and making sure to eat breakfast. The cafeteria is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the fitness center is open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday from 6 a.m.– 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon.
by Kristen Feraci
