From Kitchen to Campus: Promoting Healthy Eating Habits with Boynton Health's Nutrition Clinic

College has difficulties outside the lecture hall, too! It’s tricky to acclimate to living with others, managing your finances, and doing your laundry! Who knew it took this much work to take care of the basics?! Luckily, you don’t have to go at it alone. Boynton Health’s Nutrition Clinic will meet you wherever you are in your adulting journey to help you thrive in nutrition. 

Navigating the ins and outs of grocery shopping and feeding yourself as an adult can feel daunting. For students, grocery shopping poses various challenges surrounding proximity, price, and public transportation. Obstacles become heightened when lack of accessibility comes into play, such as living with dietary restrictions, physical and mental disabilities, and inflation tightening students' pockets. Nonetheless, the Nutrition Clinic is here to help. Each patient will find personalized recommendations on goal setting to assist them in grocery shopping, meal planning, and preparation. 

So, what would an appointment with the Nutrition clinic entail? Let's walk through it. 

After scheduling with one of our Registered Dietitians, they’ll ask for a diet recall from the previous day or a typical day in your life to keep in mind before the appointment. Feel free to jot this down in the Notes App on your phone or paper to bring to work. According to Katie Kasner, a registered and licensed dietitian of the Nutrition Care Team, the meeting would begin by detailing one’s health history, including personal and family health and current eating behaviors. Next, you’ll discuss your goals and changes you’d like to make in your health and eating habits. After gathering information, our dietitians provide nutrition advice tailored to what will suit and benefit you. 

You may ask, "What is the difference between meal prep and menu planning?!” “Should I cut out dairy?” and for insider tips and tricks like “How do I approach grocery shopping without getting overwhelmed?” 

Grocery Shopping Prep List: 

• Take inventory
  • What do you have on hand? Hot tip: open the fridge and all the cabinets in the process, not leaving out any nooks or crannies. Based on your inventory, you can strategize how best to advance.
• Brainstorm and manifest
  • Once you’ve taken inventory, brainstorm what you’ll want to eat this week based on what you already have—dreaming of eggs and bacon but only having oatmeal and lacking ingenuity.  — Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok act as great inspirations.
• Take account
  • Peek at your list. Are you hitting all the food groups? Refer to this handy dandy list. A balance of fruits, vegetables, proteins, calcium sources, and grains is the way to go. 
• Onward!
  • After your list is prepped and primed, you’re ready to head to the grocery store of your choice.
• Sorting the goods
  • After you’ve returned from the store and placed your groceries in their designated spots, grab a Post-it and write down possible meal combinations for the week ahead. Stick your menu onto a visible area in your kitchen, and you’re ready! 

Do you get overwhelmed at the grocery store or meal planning? The Nutrition Clinic is here to help you break it down. Dial 612-625-3222 or click here to embark on a thrilling adventure toward a more energized and vibrant lifestyle!

Written by: Gracie Kibort