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College is physically draining and mentally strenuous. Students need to ace exams, complete internship and training programs, and adapt to generally challenging academic environments. They do all these while keeping part-time jobs and balancing school work and other life commitments.
Because of all the things that undergraduate students need to take care of on a daily basis, it can often be challenging for them to find time to put their health first. Making healthy food choices, exercising regularly, and paying attention to mental health all take a back seat. Many find themselves trapped in unhealthy lifestyles, which eventually take a toll on their academic life and well-being.
College students need a boost in energy, memory, and focus so they can achieve all their personal and academic goals. Keeping their food intake in check is an excellent start.
How Food Impacts Brain Function
Your food intake has a profound impact on your cognitive health! While food has always been known to boost a person’s energy, recent research discovered that diet can affect a person’s molecular mechanisms and systems that help maintain mental function.
Here’s what it means: your choice to eat junk or healthy food matters to the major cells in your brain. Bingeing on fatty and sugary foods can cause inflammation of neurons and prevent new neurons from forming. As a result, your brain may not function well, causing a myriad of mental health problems.
Some nutrients directly affect a person’s cognitive function and emotions. A diet that’s packed with Omega-3 fatty acids supports cognitive processes. On the other hand, eating food with saturated fat can result in reduced molecular substrates that impact cognitive processes and heighten the risk of neurological dysfunction.
What’s more, an unhealthy diet causes the body to overproduce stress hormones that inflame certain parts of the brain, ultimately making it harder to focus or remember things—which is a no-no for college students!
10 Colleges with the Best Campus Food Options
To provide students with exceptional dining experiences, the best colleges and universities go above and beyond! They serve meals made of fresh, high-quality, and healthy ingredients that can help boost students’ cognitive and overall health function.
That being said, “healthy food” doesn’t have to be limited to dissatisfying, expensive options Vast food choices and meal plans that every student can happily munch on without breaking the bank!
Dining services in some of America’s excellent colleges and universities have dietitians, chefs, or managers to address specific preferences, food allergies, or intolerances that need to be taken into consideration when choosing a meal plan.
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio
Kent State University is considered one of the best universities for its dining choices. Students and alumni couldn’t agree more because this school has some of the most exceptional food choices on campus.
What can you expect from Kent State University when it comes to food? For one, it uses fresh ingredients and healthy food choices. This school has this sense of social responsibility and environmental concern, ensuring the most optimal dining experience and inviting atmospheres.
First- and second-year resident students must purchase meal plans for an entire school year. They can also change meal plans for each semester. Students from the upper class have the option to do so through Flashline. Meal plans can save you money while dining on campus! Plus, students get to eat at great dining locations inside the school.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
The University of Massachusetts Amherst has been voted number one for its campus food for several years. It is UMass Dining’s goal to ensure every student has access to extraordinary and inspiring dining experiences. In fact, the school invites culinary guests to its dining commons and retail operations.
UMass Dining guarantees meals are prepared with fresh and sustainably sourced ingredients. It also offers global cuisine with healthy and flavorful meals from local, regional, and international cuisines. On top of that, students can expect the best dining experiences at all times, whether it be in the residential dining commons, eateries, cafes, food trucks, or concessions.
First-year students are assigned to the Unlimited 250 meal plan. They can choose and change their meal plans once they get their first bill from the bursar’s office. Commuter students may opt for a separate or no meal plan at all.
Students with diet restrictions or who need nourishment to deal with the stress of pursuing a college degree can rest assured that they will be well taken care of at UMass. The university has registered dietitians to help students with their dietary requirements to ensure they are always healthy and safe on campus. It is particularly useful for those with food allergies or intolerances and other medical conditions.
Hendrix College
Conway, Arkansas
Hendrix College has a full-service dining operation that serves the entire campus. Its mission is not only to serve everyone hot, nutritious meals all the time but also to ensure a pleasant dining experience for all.
What makes Hendrix Dining one of the best in the nation is that it ensures the highest food quality at all times. Aside from that, the staff also strives to be as responsive to the needs of the entire campus community as possible.
Hendrix Dining is truly one of the top in the country, as it has been awarded several times in the past for its outstanding residential dining services and retail sales. Students may also speak with a registered dietitian for any dietary concerns or nutritional advice.
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Cornell University takes pride in its dining services. It guarantees a rich dining experience for its entire campus community.
Cornell Dining offers meal plans with a combination of dining room meals, tax-free food purchases, and bonus meals for guests. All first- and second-year students are required to purchase meal plans, which are also fully covered by financial aid. Students can use their meal swipes at the residential dining rooms, as well as the cafes, convenience stores, and grills on campus.
The school has a few cafes where students can study or hang out. These places serve everything from Starbucks coffee to chilis to salads.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania believes that eating smart is more than just nourishment. Whether you’re looking for a simple meal or a bountiful one, the university has several locations that can cater to you.
At the University of Pennsylvania, students can expect to be served meals using high-quality ingredients, lean or plant-based proteins, whole grains, plant-derived fats, and more. They can also get access to curated menus based on availability and season, with each café or eatery boasting unique flavors for everyone to enjoy.
Penn Dining offers a wide variety of options for all students. It offers a wide range of dining choices to cater to a diverse campus population. It has residential and retail dining options where you can find all-you-care-to-eat salads, pizzas, comfort foods, grills, and more. They also have eateries that suit the students’ schedules. Whether you’re looking for an early breakfast or a late-night snack, you’ll find everything at Penn Dining.
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia
James Madison University’s Dining Services received numerous awards for its excellent programs and services for many years. It is one of the top-ranking campus dining services in the nation for its fantastic menus and dining experiences.
Students with special dietary requirements can talk to the university’s dietitian, who can also explain to them about healthy food choices, carbs, low-carb diets, and more. They can also help ensure that your dietary needs, such as food allergies or intolerances, are taken into account. The school also ensures that they use fresh and healthy ingredients with every dish they make. What’s more, they have podcasts, blogs, and recipes to help students keep their health in check all the time.
University of California: Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
According to its website, The University of California: Los Angeles (UCLA) is the nation’s number one dining team. This is all thanks to the school’s dedication to ensuring all students have easy access to vital diet and nutrition information.
Dining menus at UCLA have a carbon footprint scorecard. Vegetarians and vegans have scrumptious options at residential boutiques and restaurants. Aside from that, to-go packaging is mostly made of recyclable or compostable materials. On top of that, the school has a tracking program that is used to monitor the amount of food that needs to be purchased to avoid excess food.
UCLA Dining Services has a gluten-free pantry for students with wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, and Celiac Disease. They have access to a wide variety of gluten-free food options. However, they must be approved by the Center for Accessible Education.
The university has also joined other colleges and universities across the country to guarantee healthier food choices for all students. UCLA creates its menus based on the guidelines around students’ nutrition and physical activity. It has also created various wellness meals that adhere to specific nutrient profile criteria.
University of San Diego
San Diego, California
Dining at the University of San Diego is a not-for-profit department that serves the whole campus community and allocates its earnings back to the university and its students. It is one of the highest-ranking university dining programs in the nation.
Students at USD are required to purchase meal plans, which allow the Dining Services team to ensure that the food they serve is something that everyone will enjoy. It also allows students to have more time to focus on their studies and enjoy life. All meals are guaranteed to be prepared with fresh, high-quality, and diverse foods created by award-winning culinarians.
USD has the best-rated campus eateries that are located just outside classrooms and residence halls. These places offer a variety of food choices, including Halal, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian, among others.
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
Virginia Tech’s Dining Services aims to be the leading food service among colleges and universities in the nation. It provides exceptional and innovative food choices, programs, venues, and services while ensuring a sense of community.
At Virginia Tech, students can choose from nine dining centers and 49 shops and restaurants. Ingredients and nutritional contents for their menus may vary and change without notice. Those with food allergies or intolerances must consult the chef or manager at the Dining Center so their dietary requirements may be accommodated.
Food trucks, cafes, and other eateries at Virginia Tech serve everything from chipotle beef to chicken noodles. They also have healthier food items for those on a strict diet or just want to keep themselves healthy. To ensure that students and guests know what they are eating, Dining Services provides up-to-date nutritional information on hundreds of products from the USDA database, food manufacturers, and package labels.
New York University
New York, New York
New York University Eats is passionate about providing students and guests with not only delicious meal options but also healthy and nutritious food choices.
First-year and transfer students living in residence halls are required to purchase a meal plan. It is a strategy to ensure that all first-year students have access to at least one healthy meal every day during their freshman year, which is a time for transitioning and adapting to college life. However, any student can sign up to enjoy the convenience of eating at any of the 14 campus dining locations.
Students with special dietary needs will be delighted to know that NYU offers a wide variety of dining locations. For inclusivity purposes in terms of food preferences, NYU has eateries that serve vegetarian, vegan, Halal, and Kosher food.
Summary Points
- Keeping a balanced diet is important for all college students because they need nutritious food that will help them focus and prepare for their lessons.
- Colleges and universities that are considered the best when it comes to campus food have one thing in common – delicious eats!