Health

University Dining Services food preparation methods limits the impact of processing foods to extend greater convenience, with less resources, than traditional grocery-store bought products. These practices foster a sustainable food system. Processing takes a health toll - processing that requires high heat reduces nutrients in many products, salt and trans fats are added to extend shelf life and restore lost flavor, sweeteners appear in everything from potato chips to stuffing mixes, and sometimes the final goods don't even resemble the original agricultural product.

In addition to the world-class Balance, Mind, Body, and Soul Program, which provides a framework for answering questions related to sustainable living, University Dining Services continues to develop practices and strategies that will have a lasting impact, including:

• Cooking Oil is Trans-Fat Free
• Platform Restaurants Provide a Completely Vegan Experience
• Menus Always provide Vegetarian Options
• Descriptions Provide Customers with Information about Allergens and Nutrition
• We'll Only Buy From Sources That Have Passed A Rigorous Food Safety Inspection
• We bake our potato wedges instead of deep-fat frying French fries

Dining Services also participates in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healthy Meatless Monday campaign. The goal is to encourage students and guests to reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.

Why Meatless? Going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

Why Monday? For most Americans the week begins on Monday. On Monday we move from the freedom of the weekend back to the structure of work or school. We set our intentions for the next six days. We plan ahead and evaluate progress.

Nutritional Guidelines. It’s easy to go meatless on Monday. In place of chicken, beef, pork or fish, just look for protein from beans, legumes, eggs, nuts and seeds instead. Find out more about nutrition related to Meatless Mondays on the campaign's Nutrition FAQs website.