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One of the most common questions I get as a nutritionist goes something like “How much protein should I be eating?”  Protein is one of the hottest nutrition topics today. Protein supplements, fortified foods and beverages are popping up everywhere, and foods already rich in protein are gaining attention.

Have you ever felt happy just from walking into a colorful day? The sky is blue, the trees are green, and the earth has red, purples, yellows, and browns. Well, today’s blog is about adding some color to your plate as well as your life.

Yes, I am talking about vegetables and fruits (hereafter referred to as “V & F.”)

Welcome to Duke!

Whether you are a first year student away from home for the first time, or returning as an upperclassman and ready to explore your dining options on West, you might want some tips about how to eat well on campus. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Think of healthy eating as having three components, timing, balance and mindfulness.

1.       Timing. Remember to eat regularly throughout the day; you can’t expect to get through your busy days if you don’t have energy (and food is energy!). A common mistake many students make is skipping meals or going too many hours without eating. If you have the First Year Board plan don’t forget to eat a small meal or snack to keep you going between meals.  

We have all stood there looking in the depths of our refrigerators, pulling out little white boxes or plastic containers; we cautiously open them, sniff, and think to ourselves “Hmmmm I wonder??????”  Leftovers can be harboring millions of unsafe bacteria and still look and smell perfectly fine.
Well wonder no more; we are here to tell you. If you can’t remember when you bought or cooked it, toss it. Nope-we aren’t about increasing food waste but a bout of food poisoning is no joking matter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are an estimated 76 million cases of foodborne illness reported in the US each year, resulting in 350,000 hospitalizations, 5,000 deaths, and who knows how many unexplained “stomach bugs”.  So folks, when in doubt, throw it out.
Here are a few guidelines to help you out:

According to The Daily Meal, Duke is one of the best universities in the nation when it comes to food.  It’s in the top 1% to be exact.  When I first heard this, I was shocked.  Duke?  The best food?  Although Duke food isn’t horrible, it doesn’t seem extraordinary either, especially with all the changes that happened over the summer. Duke removed several popular dining options including Chick-Fil-A, Armadillo Grill, and Subway, and added the Penn Pavilion and Red Mango. Students complain all the time about the changes that were made, but there is a lot to be thankful for here at Duke in terms of dining.

In honor of National Food Day and the beginning of the Green Devil Smackdown Competition, here's a blog written in April 2012 by Julianne Chiraz ('13), who was inspired by her experiences in a Duke Food Studies course in the spring of 2012.

This blog was written by Laura Neubauer ('13), and was based on an interview with Franca Alphin conducted  in the spring of 2012.

When you think of replenishment beverages after working out, what comes to mind? I tend to think of sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade, or those “mix it yourself” drinks such as Endurox. I was surprised to learn, though, that it is chocolate milk that provides your body exactly what it needs post-workout.

Many folks around the nation have embraced the “Eat Local” movement, in regard to meat, produce and dairy, but not much attention has been paid to fish. EAT LOCAL FISH DAY on Tuesday, 9/25 will introduce you to sustainable seafood.

Please join Duke Dining and Bon Appetit Management Company at the Marketplace on East Campus on Tuesday, 9/25 at lunchtime, for the Eat Local Fish Challenge. Helpful apps, recipes and extensive research will be available to all and sustainable fish populations will be highlighted.

Duke Dining is committed to fulfilling many goals, one of which is providing access to nutritional data. To help achieve that goal Duke Dining has been selected as one of a few universities to pilot a nutrition program at Marketplace and the West Union. Please bear with us as with any new program there are a few bugs to be worked out and please let us know how the new nutrition program is working for you. 

If you have any questions or comments please contact Duke Dining at 919-660-3900 or dining@duke.edu.

Find a list of food related courses offered at Duke in Fall 2012.

Read more.