Eating on Campus

Dani Rosenberg
Kappa Delta

The “freshman fifteen” seems like a common phrase for worrying upcoming freshmen going to college. Before attending UT, I heard from some of my older friends that this was an extremely true myth and they had been cursed by it. Now that I am a sophomore, I have come to realize that you can overcome that statistic and actually lose/maintain your weight!

The key to eating healthy on campus is to get familiar with the different places to eat. Up until recently, I was unaware of the salad and wrap bar in the UC. Tucked away on the third floor, there is a restaurant that serves personalized salads and wraps. Another great place to find some healthy alternatives is at Einstein’s. They actually have items on the menu that are made for individuals who want a healthy type of bagel or for someone watching their calories. McAllister’s, in our very own Thompson-Boiling Arena, is another great place to eat with friends and find a healthier alternative to unhealthy college food. Though it is not central on campus, it is usually not as packed as some of the other locations on campus and has so many items on their menu!

When I was a freshman, the best place to spend the weekly meals on my meal plan was at Morrill Hall. Though this dorm consisted of Honors students, other residents from neighboring halls could go and dine in their cafeteria. For some reason, my friends and I felt that they had better quality food served up there in comparison to the food served in the Presidential cafeteria.

Subway is also a safe bet when trying to find something healthy to eat for lunch or dinner! With two Subway locations on campus, it’s hard to deny a healthy sandwich or salad from there. Many students are unaware of Smoothie King located in the TREC. Some students do not even venture to the gym, which is unfortunate because this is such an amazing restaurant on campus! Not only do they have smoothies, they carry granola bars, meal replacement drinks, and many other great snacks!

It’s extremely important to have variety in the choices you are making with picking restaurants on campus. If you continue to go to Chick-Fil-A every morning for breakfast, you will just fall into the statistic of the college student that goes away in the fall and comes back with a few extra pounds for Christmas. My sorority sisters and I try to encourage each other to eat healthier and attempt to work out as much as possible! If you force yourself to walk across campus to a different restaurant, you are adding diversity in your diet and getting the daily exercise you need. It is so easy to make smart choices, so think about what you are planning on eating before you end up eating at one of the many fast food places on our campus!

Dani is a sophomore studying retail and fashion merchandising. You may contact her at drosenb2@utk.edu.