A New Spin on Those Old Resolutions
Nutrition, SustainabilityFor your resolution planning, we’ve got some tips for staying body positive, spending more time with family and friends, and being a strong advocate for our planet. We’ve put a special focus on food and the kitchen—we are chefs, after all! Instead of trying to lose weight, focus on giving your body better fuel. Eat your colors. For a diet rich in minerals and nutrients, eat a variety of brightly colored fruits, herbs, and veggies. Make it easy to get your recommended five...
Wholesome, Fresh Poultry and Deli Meats Are Our Standard
Nutrition, The Classic Cuts Deli®, SAGE StandardsYou may have heard talk about the potential health hazards of antibiotics and nitrates in poultry and deli meats. This is a cause of concern for many parents, who know that a high-piled sandwich or a plate of chicken tenders—one of our most popular items—is their child’s favorite meal. You can rest assured that, in a SAGE dining hall, your children’s favorites are wholesome, fresh, and antibiotic- and nitrate-free. SAGE Standards: We house-roast deli meats and source antibiotic-free chicken. What We...
A Spoonful of Added Sugar
Nutrition, Spotlight ProgramIf you’re paying attention to headlines about nutrition, you’ve probably heard the buzz about added sugar. For the first time, the 2015 USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting added sugars (not to be confused with natural sugars) to less than 10% of the calories in your diet. For the average adult consuming roughly 2,000 calories a day, that’s no more than 200 calories—about 12 teaspoons, or 50 grams, of added sugar. That’s three percent less than the average American consumes...
The Makings of a SAGE Menu
Nutrition, Menu Builder, Spotlight ProgramSAGE Dining Services® has been promoting healthy eating habits since its beginning in 1990. We know that nutrition has a big impact on our students’ academic performance, attendance, athletic performance, and long-term health. That’s why we put such care into making sure every menu is delicious, nutritious, and diverse—no small feat. Every menu is composed of a variety of from-scratch recipes. Each recipe begins as an idea in a SAGE Chef’s head. It’s then submitted and tested in our kitchens...
One-on-One with a SAGE Dietitian
Nutrition, Allergies, SAGE Community, One-on-OneLesley Vogel is the Director of Nutrition at SAGE Dining Services®. To celebrate Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, I stole a few moments with her during a busy day of meeting with her team of Registered Dietitians, reviewing menu plans, and answering Managers' questions about allergens, ingredients, and recipes—read on to learn more! So, Lesley... what's the coolest part of your job? There's never a dull moment! I just got back from speaking about how to accommodate for food allergies as...
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2016
Nutrition, Educational Seasonings, Spotlight Program, Eating DisordersSunday, February 21st kicks off National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This year's campaign stresses early detection and intervention, a key focus in all SAGE communities. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, over 30 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder—and many begin that struggle young. Children as young as seven have been diagnosed with eating disorders. While genetic predisposition is a factor in the development of eating disorders, environmental cues also make a huge impact—in combination with stressors...
How Sweet It Is
NutritionOur love affair with chocolate goes all the way back to the Aztecs, who paid their taxes with cocoa beans. During the Revolutionary War, cocoa was such a prized ration that the Continental Congress imposed price controls. Today, chocolate is still a hot commodity, and we have many more choices than the simple cocoa and water our ancestors enjoyed. Here's a brief “chocolate dictionary” to help you figure it all out: Chocolate for Baking Hint: When deciding which chocolate to...
New Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Nutrition, Spotlight ProgramThe long-awaited 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have been released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The recommendations, designed to assist Americans in achieving lifelong health, are strikingly similar to the standards we have held at SAGE for more than 25 years. The five basic guidelines: 1. Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan. 2. Focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount. 3. Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake...