help with cafeteria food

[waterangel]

In the past month I've been attempting to lose weight I found a few major pitfalls in my plans. I've found my way around a few but the worst is at the campus cafeteria.

I'm at my college campus from 9 in the morning to 10 at night. I typically have a slim fast bar and coffee in the morning on the way to class, then between classless I'll grab something quick from the cafeteria for lunch then again for dinner. The problem is that the cafeteria often only serves food that is horrible for any diet. I'm afraid of the salad bar because the lettuce in there looks like it's been sitting there since the school opened back in may, aside from this, last time I tried having a salad for lunch at the school I was at the vending machine within half an hour completely starving again, my face looking similar to this and dinner is pretty much the same situation.

Any suggestions on how to survive the cafeteria?

 

[maleficent]

Peanut butter - a college student's best friend

my bet would be your raiding of the vending machine, isn't getting you any protein - which is why ou're starving again... Try to find snacks, or keep snacks with you (which will save you money in the long run too) that have protein in it...

ie - almonds, peanuts, etc...

and watch portion sizes...

Do you have a fridge in your dorm? keep some cream cheese in there and pack a smallish bagel with cream cheese in your bag and have it on your way to class or during class.. it's winter so it's not going to spoil right now

Are there any edible side dishes? mystery meat covered in slop might be out -but what about side dishes? baked potato? veggies?

 

[waterangel]

Peanut butter - a college student's best friend
Do you have a fridge in your dorm? keep some cream cheese in there and pack a smallish bagel with cream cheese in your bag and have it on your way to class or during class.. it's winter so it's not going to spoil right now

Are there any edible side dishes? mystery meat covered in slop might be out -but what about side dishes? baked potato? veggies?

Well actually I commute to school, which is why I'm on campus as much as I am. If I could get home between classes to eat I would, but by the time I get home I'd have to turn around and go back, and that would be murder on gas price for me.

The general menu to order from at school is hamburgers, fries, and other fatty foods, then the salad bar of disgusting old lettuce I mentioned earlier. Any sandwich found contains bacon or some kind of deep fried meat.

That is however a wonderful idea for snacks, I'll pick something up this weekend for Monday.

But about meals, what would I be better off with? My bag is heavy enough as it is, so I don't really want to add a meal to the bag...

 

[maleficent]

what about packets of instant oatmeal that you could carryin your bag - and just get some boiling water -I'm sure tea is aavilable so water would be available as well...

anything can really become a snack

While the eat 6 small meals a day isnt really necessry - i think if you're in school and onthe go - you really need to refuel your body regularly... you'll concentrate easier if you aren't hungry...

 

[waterangel]

what about packets of instant oatmeal that you could carryin your bag - and just get some boiling water -I'm sure tea is aavilable so water would be available as well...

anything can really become a snack

While the eat 6 small meals a day isnt really necessry - i think if you're in school and onthe go - you really need to refuel your body regularly... you'll concentrate easier if you aren't hungry...

That's a great idea, thanks ^-^

 

[austin_88]

Can you pack food from home?

I had the exact problem at my university, but thankfully they had salad rolls, but unfortunatly were about $6 each!

Salad rolls are easy to make, or you could pre package your own salads and bring them with you? Snack bars are great when your on the go, or cup-a-soups? If salad rolls are a bit too much in the calorie content you could always try low fat rye wraps, they're less than 100 calories per wrap! I like filling mine with lettuce, carrot, pineapple, low fat cheese and either chicken pieces with sweet chilli sauce or a can of flavoured tuna. Yum.

 

[waterangel]

Can you pack food from home?

I had the exact problem at my university, but thankfully they had salad rolls, but unfortunately were about $6 each!

Salad rolls are easy to make, or you could pre package your own salads and bring them with you? Snack bars are great when your on the go, or cup-a-soups? If salad rolls are a bit too much in the calorie content you could always try low fat rye wraps, they're less than 100 calories per wrap! I like filling mine with lettuce, carrot, pineapple, low fat cheese and either chicken pieces with sweet chilli sauce or a can of flavored tuna. Yum.

Well I would rather not pack anything because that's just added weight to an already heavy load that I can barely get to the bus as it is. I think I will try that tomorrow, see just how much extra is being shoved into my bag and all that, if it doesn't work out I still have the gross salad to fall back on right