Before your student gets to campus, support them in thinking about healthy, mindful eating and getting enough good-quality food throughout the day. Our nutritionists are ready to answer any questions and help your student meal plan, figure out the dining halls and can support students with a variety of nutrition concerns—here are their best tips for starting those conversations now!
Free Nutrition Resource Clinic
Medical Services offer free basic consultations with a registered dietitian for CU students for nutrition-related concerns. The initial visit is 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute follow-up.
When: Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., on a walk-in, first-come first-served basis
Location: Rec Center Wellness Suite
Free Nutrition Resources through Housing & Dining Services
Housing & Dining Services has a registered dietitian on staff, who can meet with students individually, answer questions, do dining hall walk-throughs and more.
Nutrition Counseling
Medical Services also provides ongoing, in-depth nutrition counseling for varying needs and concerns in 60-minute or 30-minute sessions. Nutrition counseling is by appointment and is covered by the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan; students with Campus Care or other insurance will be charged a fee for the appointment.
Starting strong
Forming healthy habits with food and understanding the basics of nutrition now will go a long way in the dining halls and when out with friends. The key to feeling your best, according to nutritionists at CU Boulder, is the same balanced, varied, plentiful diet you’ve been telling your student about for years.
Remind them that eating regular meals along with snacks throughout the day will be vital to getting through a full day of long lectures, labs, study sessions and work. If your student has never been a breakfast person, try some things at home with them to start: we love yogurt with berries and granola, whole wheat toast with nut butter and bananas or a quick veggie scramble.
A breakfast that’s rich in protein, carbs and healthy fats will make a world of difference during those early morning classes when your student has a full schedule. If they’re still not feeling it, work together to find smaller snacks that can help them to fuel up in the morning, like a granola bar and a piece of fruit.
Keeping it colorful
While you have a little more flexibility at home together, practice making a colorful plate. From orange sweet potatoes and green spinach to black beans and yellow corn, the more colorful your meal, the more varied the nutrients tend to be.
Eating a varied diet like this starts to add up for our brains, too: lots of different nutrients make for a high-functioning memory and regulated moods, things that will really help around midterms and finals.
Listening to our bodies
Our nutritionists also advise practicing mindful eating, particularly before entering the sometimes-stressful world of college. Talk to your student about the basics of this practice: noticing when we are hungry, and just as importantly, noticing when we are full.
Taking cues from our bodies is a learned skill, and we all benefit from practice. Encourage your student to follow their intuition and figure out if they feel better when eating 5 small meals every day instead of the traditional 3; they may find they haven’t been eating enough to feel satisfied, or have been pushing to finish certain meals too quickly.
Practicing listening to and learning their body’s cues will make it easier for your student to manage their nutritional needs once they are on campus.
For more information on nutrition services, visit our website.