Up Your Game with Performance Spotlight™
Nutrition, Performance SpotlightDoes your athlete want to add an extra edge to their game? Properly fueling is one strategy athletes can use to optimize their performance. Research shows adequate nutrition can maximize gains in speed, strength, and agility; shorten the recovery period; provide nutrients that support health; and reduce the risk of injury and illness. We recognize that athletes have special nutritional needs to help them perform their best. Performance Spotlight™ is our nutrition education program designed specifically for them. With Performance...
On the Road with RDs
NutritionGreetings! Welcome to the first installment of our new blog series: “On the Road with RDs” where we invite you to follow along with our Registered Dietitians as they visit venues, teach communities, and continue their education in the wide world of nutrition. This inaugural post is from Nicole Sayre, our RD in the West. In May, I attended the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago with colleagues from the Procurement Department. This isn’t just any trade show —...
From Our Dietitians: The Beet Is On!
Nutrition, From Our KitchenAll of a sudden, the humble beet has become chic. Beet juice, beet smoothies, beet chips, beet chews, crispy beet salad toppings — there’s no shortage of new beet products on the shelves these days. It’s no wonder, because beets can’t be beat when it comes to their nutritional benefits, sports-enhancing qualities, and innovative culinary applications. (No more puns, promise!) The powerful red dye component is probably the most notable feature of beets, and although the staining ability is...
Facts Over Fear: Research-based Considerations for Sourcing Fruits and Vegetables
NutritionToday we have more choices than ever when it comes to produce – not only can we choose among many types of fruits and vegetables, but also between produce that’s grown conventionally, organically, or locally. When deciding what to purchase, it’s important to make choices that align with personal values. It’s also important to consider the facts about the safety of all kinds of fruits and vegetables. With only 12% of adults and 40% of children regularly meeting daily fruit...
From Our Dietitians: Fostering Balanced Nutrition Habits at Home
NutritionIt’s common knowledge that nutrition is an important part of well-being. We’ve dedicated a lot of resources to this very topic and designed programs to provide nutritional guidance. Our dining halls are proof that young people can, and do, enjoy nutrient-dense meals at school. But, if you struggle with helping your child choose nutritious foods at home, here are some ways you can implement our strategies to develop a balanced nutritional practice with your family. Basic nutritional messaging helps promote...
Top 10 Tips for Brain Health and Academic Achievement
NutritionPreparing for test day can be nerve-racking enough—help your kids out with these brain-boosting nutrition tips: 10. Eat breakfast: Academic achievement is more likely with regular meal consumption, especially breakfast. Breakfast-eaters score higher on standardized tests and have higher GPAs than peers who skip this meal. 9. Don’t forget the fruit: Students consuming two or more servings of fruit per day, especially berries, have been shown to have improved academic achievement. Berries are high in anthocyanins and other flavonoids, which...
Growing Your Own Produce
Nutrition, Growing SAGEThe days are getting longer, and that means it’s time to start thinking about spring gardens. More than 200 of the communities we serve have a type of garden — from simple herb boxes to full-fledged farms. And to put it simply, we love it when our communities grow their own. Campus gardens provide endless opportunities for learning, and they have a positive impact on the food and vegetable consumption of the students we serve. We live in a busy...
From Our Dietitians: Top 10 Tips to Persuade Picky Eaters
NutritionYou want your children to have the best nutrition possible—but let’s be real, when it comes to eating new or healthy foods, kids can be stubborn. Don’t despair! These tips from our Dietitians, coupled with some patience and perseverance, will help expand the palettes of even your most finicky eaters. 10. Change it up: Introduce previously rejected foods in new ways. Use different spices, flavors, or cooking methods. 9. Go all in: Cook the same meal for the whole family...