Dining halls offer unhealthy tempations

The dining hall can get your waistline into trouble. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet - and many go up more than once in a sitting. Any food you can imagine eating, the dining hall has it. It can be tough to stick to a strict diet when you could have anything from cheesy pizza to a double cheeseburger. So how exactly do you go about picking what to eat, especially if you are trying to lose weight?

When you enter the dining hall, think about what your goals are. If you are trying to lose weight there are certainly some things that you should avoid. Here are some tips to make it through the semester without gaining a pound.

1. Have a giant salad - Make a large salad and load it with veggies. If you want toppings such as cheese or dressing, use them sparingly. When picking a dressing, opt for a light dressing or vinaigrette and use it on the side. The same goes for sauces; stay clear of anything that is cream or cheese based. They are loaded in fat, calories and cholesterol.

2. Lean protein - While the protein selection may be small when you are at the dining hall, try and get the healthiest choice possible. Go to the grill for some grilled chicken, or when they have it, choose turkey or fish.

3. Get it cooked right - When you get anything, whether it is protein or veggies, stick to baked, broiled, steamed or grilled. Anything that is fried is drowned in oil and ruins the "healthiness" of the food. Also, watch out for anything cooked in butter.

4. Whole grain - When you get any type of grain, make sure it's whole. Look for brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat breads. Getting a sandwich? Get it on whole wheat and use just one slice of bread. You will save calories, but feel like you are still eating a sandwich.

5. Stay clear of the dessert bar - Yes, we all love dessert at the end of our meal, but it will kill your diet. If you have a sweet tooth craving, go for some fruit or get a small cup of hot chocolate. If you have to have that dessert, have one or two small bites and get rid of it.

6. Avoid sugary drinks - Whether it is soda, an energy drink or a couple of drinks at a party, all are killers to the waistline. Drink water or low-fat milk. If you need something with some flavor, opt for a sugar free drink or have a small glass of juice.

7. Get what you want and do not go back - Having a buffet just tempts you to go back for more. Get what you want the first time, and don't go back. At the end of the meal, you are probably full but don't realize it. Sit and wait 10 minutes and more than likely you will say, "I don't need to go back up again."

8. Eat slowly - Put down your fork after every bite. The longer you take to eat what is on your plate, the more likely you will feel full sooner and probably not even be able to eat everything that is there.

9. Will power - Being at the dining hall can make you want anything and everything. Keep in mind your goals before you enter the dining hall and stay away from any tempting parts of the buffet. Remember, you do have will power, so use it and keep up a healthy diet.

If you are going to Trax or the Union, you can go online and check out the nutritional information at www.basc1.com. Select meals that are low in fat. Opt for salads with light dressings or get a sandwich on whole wheat minus the cheese and dressing. Go for chicken and turkey instead of beef.

The biggest thing to remember when you are about to eat a meal: half should be fruits and veggies, one fourth should be lean protein and the other one fourth should be complex carbohydrates (whole grains).

If you think about what your meal/plate might look like, you can visualize it before you get to your dining location. Once you have made your healthy meal decision, grab some water and take your time eating your waistline friendly meal.

You have will power and determination. Use it every time you go to any dining location on or off campus. You will be proud of yourself and your waistline will happy as well.