College Dorm/Cafeteria Nurition

[packerfan12]

Hey guys any tips on eating enough and eating the right food without a kitchen? I play football and need to put on muscle but its hard during season. I eat in the cafeteria like all the other guys but am having trouble eating right. The food in the cafeteria can be fatty/fried/greasy as hell. We always have a salad bar and deli bar but the hot main course is always different. Any ideas? suggestions? thanks

[JWP806]

What are your options for protein? Do they have several options for a hot main course or is it just one specific dish each day/meal? I would obviously stay away from the greasy/fried foods. If they have a salad bar, I would load up on hard boiled eggs if they have them.

Playing football you burn a ton of calories so if you are trying to bulk up during the season you will need to eat like a horse.

[packerfan12]

ya it is always one option each meal each day. it is all you can eat but that can be a bad thing especially when you dont know the exact nutrition in the food youre eating. Ive been doing the hard boiled egg thing and been loading up on the deli turkey.

[JWP806]

Yeah, that would be your safest bet for lean protein sources... Other than that, the only way to know is just to eat intuitively or ask for macros from the cafeteria works.

[packerfan12]

Ya thats a good idea. Just trying to find a balance between enough and too much when it comes to the fried/fatty food. Because at times that is my only option for protein other then the turkey meat. And that gets old sometimes haha

[TopDogg]

easiest option is to buy tuna and oats

[packerfan12]

Canned tuna and canned chicken? Thats good one tthank you.

[TopDogg]

canned tuna,
i never tried canned chicken. i usually buy 10kg of boneless chicken breast at a time

[packerfan12]

Ya I just have no wherr to store that. I only have a mini fridge in my room

[JWP806]

Canned chicken is awful IMO but if it's your only option, I guess you'd find a way to make due with it.

[BUTTERYGOODNESS]

Canned chicken is awful IMO but if it's your only option, I guess you'd find a way to make due with it.

Although a tad more expensive, Tyson's canned chicken ain't too bad

[lstbred]

Few questions, I have a lot of insite but I got a few questions:
Where are you at?
Who is the foodservice contractor?
Are you on a "mandatory meal plan" dorm declining balance?
Unfortunitely, most residentail dining is geared toward the "normal" eating patterns of students and can be difficult, I know, I work in a college enviro, am a chef and still find it difficult at times.

[packerfan12]

I am in the midwest. Dont wanna give too much info on location/school because of ball. And I the food service is sodexa. I have X amount of meals a week. Its not a $ system. Its based on number of meals.

[lstbred]

Ah, 1 swipe = 1 meal. Im sorry, I forgot to ask what "stations" they have, ie; salad bar, grill, pizza, rotating entree etc. Do you eat breafast too?

[packerfan12]

Yes one swipe one meal exactly. And no we have a salad bar. A deli bar and then the main meal. So usually a protein a carb and a veggie. And yes breakfast is offered. I have 14 meals a week. Thats the most you can have.

[packerfan12]

And yes I do eat breakfast on most days