The New Trends in College Dining

Published on Monday, June 13th, 2011 by Dania Mallette Category: College Tips

Top Ramen continues to be the iconic symbol of the “starving student” but these days the choices available to college students as they relate to food and dining have improved greatly–even for those on a budget. There are a handful of new dining trends students are gravitating to and thankfully, it doesn’t have to deal with fast food.

Traditional Recipes with Healthier Ingredients – Beyond Health and Fitness

It goes without saying that society’s growing obsession with being healthier has also affected the college demographic. Even students on tight budgets are taking the time to care about their nutrition by preparing home cooked meals and substituting certain ingredients with healthier options. For example, substituting regular pasta with whole-wheat versions and using lighter sauces that don’t contain loads of butter and other heavy ingredients.

More and more students are also learning how to buy organic food items. Some even turn to growing their own foods in mini gardens that can easily be housed in an apartment or even a dorm room.

Students Are Developing a More Exotic Taste Palette

Over the years, most college students thought of fine dining as Chinese, Japanese or Italian. However, recent college dining trends show that the average student is expanding his/her horizons by eating more exotic foods. Mediterranean meals lead the pack when it comes to dining options. Thai, Indian and Vietnamese are among the other popular favorites of students in colleges and universities across the nation. The demand for these types of dining choices is becoming so great that many campuses now include these selections in their food courts, which lends more variety to the traditional options available.

Students Crave Freshly Prepared Meals

Boxed meals are fast, convenient and great for students that are constantly on the go. However, recent college dining trends highlight the movement towards freshly prepared meals, either by the students themselves or when eating out. It goes without saying that boxed meals scream “processed food,” while eating something that’s made to order means consuming fresh ingredients that contain the highest levels of nutritional value. As social as college students are, local restaurants continue to be popular meeting places for friends seeking a brief getaway from campus life, where they can enjoy their favorite meals made from scratch. Additionally, many college campuses offer food courts where students also have the ability to get their food made to order.

Using Apps to Make Better Food Choices

Who would have thought that technology could play such a huge role in college dining? In addition to switching to organic ingredients and replacing traditional food items with low-fat and non-fat versions, students now have even more ways to learn how to practice proper nutrition by using the latest apps. Regardless of what eating habits and goals an individual has, there is an app to support it. From calculating calories and choosing the most nutritious meals while eating out to helping students pick the best grocery items and sending alerts for when certain fruits and vegetable are in season, any student can stay on top of their daily diet.

If these college dining trends continue, perhaps fewer and fewer students will have to deal with the dreaded “freshmen 15.” Or, other forms of excersice might also help reduce the fresh 15. Most colleges now have Pilates programs to offset the weight gain.

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