Nutrition

This nutrition blog features thoughts, tips, and videos from our student Nutrition Outreach Workers (NOW) and UHS Registered Dietitians.

Ask the Dietitian: Home Cooking

April 13, 2017
Q: I know home cooking is cheaper and healthier than restaurant food, but cooking for myself is intimidating. What should I make?

Ask the Dietitian: Fat Talk

February 9, 2017
I ate so much junk food this week, I feel like I gained ten pounds! How can I get more willpower?

Body Image Blues

February 9, 2018
UHS Registered Dietitian Toby Morris talks about fat talk in the workplace and everyday life and resources to combat it.

Seasonal Produce

April 30, 2021
As the weather gets warmer and we all prepare for summer, let’s take some time to appreciate the return of spring and summer produce. Shopping seasonally not only helps with saving money when buying groceries, but it can also boost your nutritional intake as you explore and consume a greater variety of produce. Each fruit and vegetable has a unique nutritional profile, so taking advantage of the new produce that will become available can introduce different micronutrients, like vitamins and minerals, while also keeping you excited to stay nourished and motivated this season. I always look forward to the return of papaya and watermelon, as they are tasty and packed with water, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

Ask the Dietitian: Freshman 15

September 15, 2016
Q: What is the best way for college students to prevent the “Freshman 15?” A: Ain’t no such thing. The “Freshman 15” is a catchy phrase that was probably created to sell magazines. A meta-analysis of 22 studies including more than 5500 participants showed that college students gained an average of only 3 pounds. That’s a normal weight gain for a student in his or her late teens. We measure growth in kids and teens on growth curves.

Study Session Tips

October 13, 2017
They’re here before we know it; midterms are upon us. For many students, this means prioritizing studying over healthy habits. But exams don’t have to make us set our health aside. There are healthy habits that everyone can pick that not only contribute to overall health but may also improve your brain power while studying. I think I speak for most of us when I say I would like my brain to be working as efficiently as possible when I’m hitting the books. These tips are twofold: they contribute to your health and could help improve your cognition.

Meal Planning and Prepping

November 15, 2019

Your stomach is howling, it’s late, maybe BART was delayed or you got out of lab late, but as you make the trek home you realize you have nothing to eat and that the last thing you want to do is cook, so you order some quick take out to grab on the way. We’ve all felt that hunger, that exhaustion, and all made that decision to get something quick to eat to satisfy our stomachs. It’s the hearty home-cooked meal we want to come home to after a long day, not the sad empty fridge or cold leftovers.

As a member of the Cal Band, coming home late is...

Eating Healthy on a Budget

March 1, 2019
10 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget Are you tired of opening your wallet every time your stomach starts growling? Well, this post is for you! Whether you’re a student on-the-go or just looking to save money on food, anyone can pick up quick and easy ways to eat on a budget. We asked our very own UHS Nutrition Outreach Workers (NOWs) to share their best practices for eating healthy without breaking the bank.

Health at Every Size

December 8, 2017
You can be healthy and fit without being thin. As part of a social movement called Health at Every Size (HAES), dietitians and doctors are moving away from assessing people’s health according to their weight. The HAES philosophy is based on the idea that people of all sizes deserve respect and good health, and that size does not determine health.

Handling Weight-Focused Conversations

October 22, 2019

Everyone has heard a comment or two, while home for the holidays or back at school after the holidays, of how our appearance has changed so much. Well-intentioned at best, or triggering at worst, a “simple” comment can send some of us running to the other room wondering if we have changed that much, and if that change is good or bad. Body talk is when the emphasis is placed on someone’s appearance, usually their body type/weight. Negative body talk can be mean or outright nasty comments, sometimes...