{"id":73,"date":"2026-01-15T16:00:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T21:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/wellness\/?page_id=73"},"modified":"2026-04-22T13:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T17:13:17","slug":"nutrition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/wellness\/general-health-wellness\/nutrition\/","title":{"rendered":"Nutrition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Eating well for success<\/p>\n\n\n

Nutrition<\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Center for Health Education and Wellness provides students with resources to make informed nutritional decisions and eating healthy on a budget.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Making Healthy Choices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maintaining healthy eating habits is essential for staying energized and supporting your immune system during college. Learn healthy eating habits, options available at Vol Dining, and mindful eating strategies to support your wellness. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Healthy Eating Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Start with Breakfast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Start your day with a healthy breakfast. For busy mornings, keep grab-and-go options like fresh fruit or yogurt in your room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Enjoy Healthy Snacking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keep healthy snacks such as raw veggies, yogurt, fresh fruit, popcorn, pretzels, trail mix, and granola bars in your room<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Limit Sugar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sugar is high in calories and low in nutrition. If you can\u2019t eliminate it completely, try to limit your intake. Have a piece of fruit first and share a candy bar with a friend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Balance Your Meals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A healthy diet includes whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and healthy fats while limiting processed items to improve health and lower the risk of chronic disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Stay Hydrated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Drink water when thirsty and stay extra hydrated during exercise, hot weather, or illness. Carry a water bottle and sip throughout the day to avoid dehydration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Making Healthy Choices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With Vol Dining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vol Dining offers easily attainable nutrition information for food items offered in the residential dining halls. All residential dining halls on campus offer vegetarian, vegan, allergy-free and healthy options. Daily menus are available online through Vol Dining<\/a> for the campus community to view..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Fast Food Restaurants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For many college students, fast food is a go-to choice because it is cheap and convenient, and access to cooking appliances can be limited in residence halls. You can still choose healthier more nutritious options. Choose lean meats and vegetables that are fresh, baked, or grilled. Instead of pepperoni and sausage on your pizza, have veggies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Planning and Preparation<\/div><\/h2>
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Whether you cook in the residence hall, pack lunches, or utilize Vol Dining, an eating plan is a must for staying healthy while at college. The freedom to eat what you please may result in nutritional deficiencies. Having a plan makes good nutrition automatic. Wherever you dine, eat regularly spaced meals, controlled portions, and a variety of foods from all the food groups. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Eating Healthy on a Budget<\/div><\/h2>
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While cost and accessibility are always factors in having a healthy diet, nutritious foods don’t always cost more than less healthy alternatives. Over time, a healthy diet helps you avoid illness and the cost of health care like doctor visits or prescriptions. Identify areas of spending that might not be contributing to your health goals, like soda or junk food, and instead spend that money on less expensive options like rice, whole grains, lean meats, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If budgeting for food is a challenge, the Big Orange Pantry<\/a> is a campus resource available to all UT students, faculty and staff that provides nutritious food as well as hygiene products.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Be Smart When You Shop<\/div><\/h2>
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Inexpensive Healthy Staples<\/h4>\n\n\n\n