Choosing Healthy Foods

with campus executive chef Tom Barton As you may have already seen or heard, Northeastern is actively participating in something called Menus of Change . This initiative is a collaboration between the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Culinary Institute of America. Menus of Change is built on twenty-four principles that revolve around sustainable eating and education about making healthier food and drink choices. Northeastern Dining has been involved with Menus of Change – and its companion educational initiative, the Menus of Change Research Collaborative – for well over a year. We typically focus on two principles a month. This month we are focusing on "Leverage globally inspired, plant-based culinary strategies" as well as "Serve less red meat, less often." One of the exciting and unique things about all of the principles is that the schools participating in the initiative each interpret them slightly differently. A dish that we have on our menus...

with campus executive chef Tom Barton As you may have seen – or already tasted! – we are now featuring an awesome, delicious, and locally sourced apple sauce. The sauce is made with apples grown in local Massachusetts orchards. And if that wasn't enough, there is only one ingredient: apples. That's right, just apples. No sweeteners or additives, just 100% locally sourced apples. Currently, it is being made with Macintosh apples but changes with the seasonal offerings. The sauce is made by Karl Dias – commonly referred to in our kitchens as "the apple sauce guy." Karl reports that he has a steady supply of various varieties of apples and will continue to make sauce throughout the winter. Karl sent me a note over the weekend letting me know that he just finished a batch using macoun apples and thought it just might top his current batch of Macintosh sauce! Because of the outstanding flavor, clean label, and local regionality of the product, we wanted to feature it as q...

Choosing vegetables and fruits at each meal, will help add color and texture to your plate! If you include all different fruits and vegetables as a part of a healthy eating plan you will end up taking in lots of important nutrients (potassium, fiber, folic acid, and vitamins A, E, and C). Keep in mind the more colorful, the more nutrients! Pick your vegetables and fruits first Then add on your protein (beans, chicken, beef, etc.) and grains/starch (whole wheat pasta, brown rice, whole grain breads, etc.). Make half of your plate vegetables Lots of the produce offered in the Northeastern dining halls is from local farmers, which is really great! Be sure to check out the apple sauce in the dining halls made by a local company with just whole apples (no additives or preservatives). Fruits and vegetables are also: A great source of fiber that helps fill you up and keeps your digestive 
system regular. Naturally a low calorie/low fat food. A great on-the-go snack. Eating lots of frui...

Although the "freshman 15" in fact seems to be a myth, it is still important to be a conscious eater for your overall health! College is a time for adjustments including getting use to roommates, busy class schedules, and making new friends. Many times with all these changes come homesickness, stress, and anxiety, which may result in overeating. Try to evaluate your level of hunger when you reach for a snack; are you choosing a snack because you are hungry? Stressed? Bored? Do yourself a favor by stocking your room with healthy snack options: yogurts, fruits, whole grain cereals and breakfast bars. Some tips to help you make healthy choices in the dining hall! Even the most health conscious students can make less than healthy choices while filling their plates in the dining hall. Here are a few simple guidelines to help you make healthy choices most of the time: There are no "good" or "bad" foods. When choosing chicken fingers and French fries and/or a few...

Thanksgiving kicks off holiday party season where we gather with friends and family for delicious meals. Following a few key rules can help to keep you and your guests feeling good. Thaw Turkey is the main attraction at many Thanksgiving meals. Whether you buy your turkey fresh or frozen, keeping it at the right temperature in the days leading up to cooking is important for preventing foodborne illness. If you plan to thaw in the refrigerator remember that it can take up to six days for a large turkey to thaw. Thawing in cold water is a faster option, but you need to change the water every 30 minutes to make sure it stays cold enough. Turkey and other meats should never be thawed or left on the counter at room temperature. Cook Roasting to the right temperature can mean the difference between a delicious turkey and one that is either undercooked or dried out. While many turkeys come with a pop up thermometer, it is a good idea to invest in a separate meat thermometer. You want the inte...