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ASK TERRI
By Terri Brownlee, MPH, RD, LDN
Regional Director of Nutrition
Bon Appétit Management Company
I prefer to eat healthy so will I be able to find healthy food
choices in the Clark University Dining Services?
Nutrition is a very personal issue for many students. We've found
there are a wide range of foods, diets and eating patterns that
students describe when asked about what they feel is "healthy".
As such, our approach to food is designed to meet all kinds of nutritional
concerns. We start with a simple kitchen philosophy based on Our
Kitchen Principles. We cook from scratch using fresh, whole ingredients
that are purchased locally and seasonally. From the exclusive use
of olive and canola oils and commitment to using fresh produce to
the inclusion of organic, vegetarian and vegan selections in all
our menus, we take what we know about nutrition and apply it to
the way we prepare and serve foods each and every day.
Our Kitchen Principles are posted as part of the Circle of Responsibility
and Real Choices programs in your dining hall at Clark University.
At Clark University specifically, there are many healthy food choices
throughout the dining services.
Consider these options at your "all
you care to eat Café ".
Starting with "Greens"
you will find a variety of fresh produce, lean proteins such as
chicken, beans and/or tuna as well as daily specials on composed
salads. Pair these with your choices of low fat dressings, olive
oil and/or vinegar for a compliment to your meal or a balanced meal
in itself.
"The Vegan Kitchen"
is dedicated to the vegan diner but we invite all students to choose
from here to complement other selections. This station offers vegetables,
hearty whole grains, beans, organics and many lean proteins such
as tofu and tempeh to add nutritional value to any diet.
The "Global" and "Comforts"
stations offer the best chance for what we call an "In Balance
Meal". This is a combination of foods that provide an unrefined
carbohydrate choice paired with lean protein and vegetables for
a healthy combination of all your basic nutrients. In addition,
"Global" often serves expo style which means…we cook
to order for you. Just ask and we can add more or less of any ingredients
that you wish.
At the "Grill" it's
up to you. Grilled chicken or a vegetarian burger paired with a
salad, fruit and / or vegetables are part of a healthy diet. In
addition, for those times that you want to splurge, we use only
fresh 100% ground beef in our burgers and allow only canola oil
in our fryers.
Choose a slice of one of our specialty pizzas such as roasted red
pepper, Greek or eggplant tomato for a healthy solution to your
pizza fix.
Pair all of these choices with our daily selections of vegetarian
soup, deli selections, fresh fruit, yogurt, milk, soy milk and bread
and you can find foods to meet your need for nutritional balance.
Look for our labeling program to help you identify café items
with certain nutritional qualities. We use colored stickers to identify
items that are vegetarian, vegan, low fat, in balance, organic and
/ or abide by our environmental and community programs according
to farm to fork and seafood watch guidelines.
The set menu at The Bistro also
offers a number of healthy options to meet your needs. Consider
choosing the Alpine Ranch Chicken, Grilled Buffalo Chicken, Veggie
Burger or Quesadillas for a healthy but hearty meal. On the lighter
side, choose from our variety of wraps and salads selections. All
cooked to order also allows you make special preparation requests
such as "hold the cheese" or "dressing on the side".
Pair these sandwiches with salads, fresh fruit or choose sushi and
your meal can be quick as well as healthy.
Stop by our new Coffee and Smoothie Bar
for a quick pick-me-up. Choose from our selection of fair trade
and organic coffees, skim milk lattes, hot teas or even a fruit
smoothie to help you through the day.
Higgins Late Night may cater
to the evening crowd but that doesn't mean your health has to suffer.
Choose vegetable pizza, vegetables subs, grilled chicken or a tossed
salad and pair with fresh fruits, yogurt and / or a pack of crudités
for a healthy meal…even late night!
How often do the café menus change?
The answer is simple…all the time! We
do not run the kitchen based on a corporate menu cycle or recipe
file. Our on-site chef, Jim Lachance, writes new menus each week
for the Café. Student favorites will show up often, but otherwise,
expect new and exciting dining choices weekly.
I'm a vegetarian so what types of choices will be available for
me?
We know that the vegetarian diet is more than just vegetables! At
Clark there is an entire station called The Vegan Kitchen, dedicated
just to you. This area includes a variety of interesting and tasty
vegan entrees that make use of grains, vegetables, beans and vegetarian
proteins to make sure you have variety and nutritional quality.
Additional vegetarian options can be found in other areas of the
café such as vegetarian burgers, vegetarian soups, salad
bar items, made to order exhibition entrees, vegetarian pizzas and
soy milks, cheese and yogurt. Our staff at Clark University also
includes a talented pastry chef who makes many vegan desserts for
the menu. We guarantee vegan and vegetarian selections at all meal
periods and clearly label these items using our vegetarian and vegan
stickers. In addition, if there is a vegetarian selection we've
missed, just ask and we can often add items.
I follow a specific diet for (lactose intolerance, celiac disease,
diabetes etc) and need to continue my diet at school. Will this
be possible if I eat on campus?
The use of multiple stations and exhibition
areas encourages a "have it your way" system…thus
allowing you to follow any personal diet that you desire. However,
if you are having problems identifying which items meet your needs,
we're here to help. Your dining services director, Cheryl Walker,
can help you identify foods that work for you. In most cases, the
choices are already there. But if not, we will also work with you
prepare and / or purchase items that you need to make your diet
work. When needed, you and the on-site staff can also consult with
Terri Brownlee MPH, RD, LDN, Bon Appétit's corporate registered
dietitian. Keep in mind, campus housing generally has limited access
to food preparation and storage areas. No matter the dietary need,
you will find more variety, balance and nutritional value eating
with Bon Appetit than going it on your own.
How will you address my concerns about a food allergy?
We take food allergies very seriously. We
are aware of the complexities of food allergies and prefer to work
individually with any student who has an allergy. Our on-site Manager
and Chef will meet with you individually to develop a plan, which
may include special menu item(s), ingredient identification, preparation
as well as communication to necessary staff members to ensure your
foods are safe. You may also use our corporate dietitian as a resource
for food allergy information.
I am concerned about my weight. Does Bon Appétit offer diet
foods?
These days the approaches to weight management are more varied that
ever. Some people swear by low fat while others have gone to low
carbohydrate or simply watch calories. Bon Appetit will not tell
you which is right for you. Our menus provide choices for all of
these approaches. They include a wide selection of fresh lean meats
and vegetarian proteins, extensive salad and fresh vegetable options,
whole grains and beans, as well as milk / soy milk, yogurts and
fruits, which in the right portions, will support weight management.
How will I know the calories in my food?
Bon Appetit is committed to scratch cooking.
This means that we take cooking beyond just opening a can or box.
For example, we actually chop tomatoes for a sauce, boil bones for
our stocks and bake dough for the pizza crust. Our menu items are
prepared from natural, whole foods under the guidance of an experienced
chef. With this level of expertise in each and every kitchen, we
do not use standardized recipes thus it is impossible to give exact
calorie counts for all of our menu items. However, our nutrition
resource materials include a guide to common nutritional values
called "Knowing the Numbers".
You can also expect high quality ingredients free of the unnecessary
additives and hidden ingredients that are often found in make convenience
and pre-packed items. There will not be extra calories, fat, carbohydrates
or additives…just fresh food.
How does Bon Appétit address religious dietary needs?
The availability of kosher foods and other
foods that are important in religious dietary observances varies
from campus to campus. Please contact Cheryl Walker for the options
on your campus.
What if any nutritional resources does Bon Appétit have
for students? (East coast only)
We have a library of nutrition materials that
we make available to you through a program our Real Choices and
Circle of Responsibility programs. These programs are displayed
in your dining hall and contain information and real life tips about
leading a healthy lifestyle. In addition, our corporate registered
dietitian is available for programs and questions. You may contact
Terri Brownlee MPH, RD, LDN at askterri@cafebonappetit.com.
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