Top 7 Healthiest College Campuses In The United States
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Many college campuses are making meals more wholesome and nutritious by providing organic foods for their students (@TomHall/Twitter).
This struggle can become even more difficult when college dining halls serve up slop and monotony. Staying healthy is all about putting the right things in your body, and changing it up so that you don't get bored and fall off the wagon. Unfortunately, too many colleges and universities in the United States fall short of this, leaving their students desperate for healthy solutions. Some students may even give up on their healthy lifestyle altogether, simply because it is too difficult when your school is not cooperating with you.
Many schools, however, have begun to take the hint that college students want something different. Over the past few years, with health and wellness becoming a priority for many young adults, schools have started to change their pace; from offering local, organic produce, to vegan options in the dining hall, to free exercise classes on campus. Small changes and an understanding of students' health needs have really started to make a difference in the wellness of students all over the US.
Which schools have made the most strides, you ask? Here are the top seven healthiest college campuses in the US.
1. Washington University in St. Louis, located in St. Louis, Missouri
3. Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine
Washington University prides itself on supporting local artisans and farmers by buying a large percentage of their ingredients from these suppliers. This ensures high quality, nutritious ingredients. Students are also provided with plenty of informational research on the school's website pertaining to menu options, dietician contact information, and helpful tips on staying healthy on campus. Students also have access to a fitness center, dubbed South40, which is open until midnight on most days. Studio40 is also a student favorite, where they can learn to cook healthy meals with the school chefs.
2. Rice University, located in Houston, Texas
Rice University prides itself on its sustainable dining initiative. This means that ingredients are purchased from a Houston-area farm, trayless dining covers campus, fair trade coffee is offered, and a plethora of vegan and vegetarian options are at every meal. It is also well known that not only is the food at Rice from a sustainable source, it is also super tasty. Relying heavily on veggies, Rice makes sure to put out different flavored dishes full of healthy nutrients. The University also has a Wellness Center, open to all who want to better their health and wellness.
Schools such as Cornell University have gone above and beyond accommodating dietary restrictions (@Cornell/Twitter).
After being named No. 1 in the Princeton Review's "Best Food" category in 2013, Bowdoin garnered a lot of attention for its dining efforts. Perhaps most impressive is Bowdoin's very own Organic Garden. The garden hosts a grand array of herbs, vegetables, and fruits, from blueberries to eggplant to winter squash. Once harvested, the produce is delivered to campus and split amongst the dining halls, providing ingredients for daily recipes. A farmers market is also set up once or twice around campus to sell the local food directly to the students.
4. Stanford University, located in Stanford, Calif.
The California sun definitely contributes to Stanford's healthy and happy campus. If the University property is not enough space for you to frolic in and get that exercise, Stanford's fitness and wellness facilities surely will. The schools also just recently implemented a fitness program called "10 Weeks to a Fitter You" to help students who want to get back into shape. On the food end of things, Stanford's kitchens are consistently whipping up impressive and delicious cuisine for students. These meals focus on whole food ingredients, flavor, and nutritional value.
5. Oberlin College, located in Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin College takes special care of students with dietary restrictions. All of the school's menus have icons next to meal choices, indicating allergens and factoids about the food such as heart-healthy, farm-to-fork, made without gluten, low carbon, and certified organic. One specific dining hall also offers "The Simple 600 Station," which provides well balanced meals that come in at under 600 calories a pop. Even more impressive, Oberlin provides a glossary of dining hall options with their nutritional profile online. The college also supplies an informational page online for vegans, outlining all vegan options in all of Oberlin's dining halls.
6. University of California, Berkeley, located in Berkeley, Calif.
Berkeley is well known among the entire United States, and is a well respected school even outside of the California State University school system. Berkeley shouldn't just be bragging over its brains though. Sustainability and nutritional initiatives have taken Cal by storm; their dining website provides nutritional information for everything on the daily menu. Their website also gives helpful serving size information, including the number of ounces in their own bowls and cups provided at the dining halls. This information makes it extraordinarily easy to practice portion control, and make sure students are getting the right amount of fruits, veggies, grains, and proteins. Cal also prides itself on serving organic, cage-free eggs, organic salad bar options, and organic, trans-fat free peanut butter in its dining halls and eateries.
7. Cornell University, located in Ithaca, N.Y.
Cornell's Eating Well Apple helps students navigate the dining halls and find healthy options. The apple insignia indicates 100 percent whole grain, 100 percent trans-fat free, fresh ingredients, low salt, low fat, and low sugar content foods. The university also has dining options for those who keep kosher, vegan and vegetarian options, and dairy-free and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions or preferences. In fact, Cornell was ranked No. 2 by Peta for Most Friendly Vegan College in 2012. Cornell also has an online resource page dedicated to the Freshman 15, which includes contact information for those who want some assistance with their dietary habits.
Reach Staff Reporter Ashley Seruya here or follow her on Twitter here.
