Northeastern University Dining Services Blog

Monday, December 9, 2013

4 Tips To Avoid Stress Eating During Finals

Monday, December 9, 2013 | 9:26 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments
It's the week of finals and suddenly there's so much to do and not enough time to do it. With projects, papers, studying, all-nighters, and early wake-ups, indulging in your favorite (and maybe not so good for you) foods seems like the perfect way to relieve some of that finals stress. When we turn to food to relive stress, it tends to be food that comforts us and makes us feel good, which a lot of times is a carton of ice cream, a slice of pizza, or your favorite piece (or bag) of candy. The truth is, finals may not only be a stressful time of the semester but a time where weight gain occurs in stressed out students. The combination of a large amount of sedentary time studying and test taking, little to no exercise, and stressful or late-night eating is a recipe for weight gain. Another truth is that we may not even recognize that we are in fact stress eating due to being completely preoccupied. So how do we avoid this stress eating before it takes place? Here are four tips to help you avoid stress eating during this semester's finals

Monday, December 2, 2013

3 Brain Foods to Get You Through Finals

Monday, December 2, 2013 | 9:38 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , , , No comments
The semester is coming to a close which can mean only one thing: finals. While your time may be consumed by reading, studying, reviewing and memorizing it is important to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. Believe it or not, there are some foods that have been proven to be essential for proper brain function, improve learning and motor skills, contribute to healthy blood flow, enhance memory and focus, and overall maintain a healthy brain. Though food has typically been seen as a mean to provide us with the energy and material we need to maintain our body and its functions, over the last decade research has shown evidence that dietary intake has an influence on the mechanisms that maintain mental function (Gomez-Pinilla, 2008). Here are some major brain foods to fuel your mind this finals season.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Four Tips for Healthy Eating During the Holidays

Friday, November 22, 2013 | 10:22 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments
The holiday season is right around the corner which means lots of celebrating with parties and gatherings accompanied by much to eat and drink, not all being "healthy." First up is Thanksgiving, a time to give thanks, centered around a huge feast. So how do we keep it happy and healthy without weight gain during this joyous season of eating? Here are a few tips on how to have your feast and eat it too without the weight gain.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Caffeine: How Much Is Too Much?

Thursday, November 14, 2013 | 11:12 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments


With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Patrick H. Norwood

Caffeine is the single most widely used substance in the world over, regardless of age group or cultural background. It is known as a common stimulant. We find it in a variety of foods, including coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate. Given its popularity and social acceptance, many of us come to enjoy at least a modest serving in our daily lives; Americans consume an average of 300 mg per day -- the equivalent of about 2 medium cups of brewed coffee. What, if any, are the health implications of caffeine consumption? And what if, rather than 1 or 2, we drink 5 or 6 cups of coffee each day? Are there major concerns to be had?

Monday, November 4, 2013

'Tis The Season For Squash

Monday, November 4, 2013 | 10:26 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , , No comments
As we enter the colder months of fall and winter, squash of many different shapes, sizes and colors are appearing in grocery stores and farmers markets. These nutritious, delicious and colorful seasonal wonders are known as winter squash. Winter squash are low in calories and fat and contain no cholesterol while being loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fiber. Squash is also low in carbohydrates. Many of these varieties are loaded with vitamin A, which is essential for immune function, vision, cell growth and the maintenance of many of our bodies organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys. Seeds are edible as well providing protein, healthy fats and dietary fiber and taste great when roasted.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

10 Healthy Foods to Beat Those Halloween Treats

Thursday, October 31, 2013 | 11:41 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , No comments

Guest post by Northeastern graduate student Meghann Jurkowski

Halloween is an exciting time of year filled with tricks, treats, costume parties and loads of candy. It's always fun to take part in the festive activities and taste all the Halloween goodies that surround us but sometimes we indulge a bit too much. If you have been to one too many parties or ate a little bit too much this holiday, leaving you feeling sluggish, overly full, sick or just plain creepy, you should consider cleansing your body with some detoxing foods. It is completely possible to give your body a cleanse, ridding yourself of those Halloween toxins without fasting! Here are 10 detox foods to get you back to normal...

Friday, October 25, 2013

What's All The Hype About Kale?

Friday, October 25, 2013 | 1:01 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , No comments

Guest post by Northeastern graduate student Meghann Jurkowski

The mighty kale has been a hot topic on the rise. Everyone seems to be drinking green smoothies or doing juicing cleanses with kale as a main ingredient. It's also been popping up in dishes at restaurants across the country and promoted heavily in all kinds of grocery stores. October 2nd was even National Kale Day! You may be looking around and wondering to yourself, what's all the hype about kale? The truth is, this nutrient packed super leafy green is something to be raving about. There are so many different kinds of kale, so many ways to prepare and eat it, it tastes great and the nutritional benefits are outstanding!

Friday, October 4, 2013

The Skinny on Fad Diets: 14 Easy Tips for Healthy Weight Management

Friday, October 4, 2013 | 9:39 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , No comments


With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Kelli Harvilla

We have all encountered our share of fads, whether it was a specific phrase or the following of a boy band, and these things were pretty harmless to our health; however, one type of fad has blown to epic proportions, and has the potential to be harmful – the culprit being fad diets. This type of dieting has opened our eyes to a new world of weight loss, where our hopes and spirits are lifted towards achieving quick and easy results with virtually no work. These "diets" may prove to be successful at first, but how long can it last and what happens when the fad fades away?

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Stressed? Eight Easy Steps to Control Stress Eating

Thursday, September 26, 2013 | 2:20 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments


With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Kelli Harvilla

Whether you are getting adjust to being at school or your new schedule you may be feeling a bit stressed. Many of us are guilty of it – emotional eating. We love our favorite comfort foods and make sure they are available when we are feeling “stressed out.” When we let our feelings affect our nutritional choices, we also affect any weight loss goals we are trying to reach. Food tends to serve as a distraction, allowing us to put aside our worries for the time being. Unfortunately, we often feel guilty after an episode of overeating to deal with stress.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Exciting New Changes for Fall 2013!

Friday, September 13, 2013 | 11:14 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , , No comments


Welcome back Huskies! After a summer of co-ops, internships, or just time relaxing at home - and a summer of event planning and new construction for us (but more on those shortly!) - we're happy to have you all back on campus. With a week and half officially on-campus, we hope that you've been finding your way back to all your favorite dining locations as well as trying something different to find some new favorites. Here's a look at what we've been up to all summer and what we have cooking for this semester.

Friday, June 7, 2013

International Village Expansion

Friday, June 7, 2013 | 9:59 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , , No comments


HAPPY SUMMER HUSKIES! What an exciting year we had. From great events like a wild Mardi Gras celebration in February and a "Taste of Hawaii" at Educate Your Palate in April to the grand opening of the completely renovated dining area at the Curry Student Center this year has been unlike any other for us at Northeastern University. And speaking of renovations, this summer is packed with even more construction to bring you some exciting new changes for September.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Tales From The Truck: Year One in Review

Monday, April 22, 2013 | 3:26 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , No comments


While I write this post I am also planning the proper steps of what it will take to shut down the Hungry Hungry Husky food truck for the summer. Our home base at International Village will be undergoing renovations for some exciting changes and additions come September, so we will also have a lapse in service. Although we won't be in business, there will still be multiple dining options at your disposal on campus this summer.

Food truck entrepreneurs and operators come from all walks of life and open trucks with many different goals, ideas, and visions in mind. It is because of this that there is great diversity of options when choosing to dine at a mobile food vendor. The past six months I've spent managing H3 have been by far the most rewarding and exciting since I have been here at Northeastern. The following are some of the highlights, for me, in managing the Hungry Hungry Husky:

Friday, April 5, 2013

Cooking 101 Recap: Week VIII

Friday, April 5, 2013 | 12:21 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , No comments


by Campus Executive Chef Tom Barton

Well it's finally here -- the final Cooking 101 class. As promised, next week's final session will be the student chefs' chance to utilize the tips and techniques they have learned during the past eight weeks to prepare a complete three course dinner for their invited guests. In this past Tuesday's class, our chefs were busy practicing the surprise menu.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Tales From The Truck: The Future of Food Trucks

Thursday, April 4, 2013 | 10:05 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , No comments


A while back in my first blog post on the history of food trucks, I promised a follow-up post about what we see as the future for food trucks. Food trucks are far from hitting their peak. We are part of a market that is still developing and there are endless opportunities for prospective operators who want to open food trucks and sell the food they are passionate about, and think will fit a missing niche for consumers. Food trucks are great additions to any city around the world; they get customers out on the streets and in turn create a sense of community and interaction with your fellow city goers.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Cooking 101 Recap: Week VII

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 | 5:05 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , No comments


by Campus Executive Chef Tom Barton

Last night was week seven of our Cooking 101 class in the Xhibition Kitchen and after learning about knife skills, cold preparations, and entrées over the past few weeks we had finally reached most everyone's favorite area of the kitchen: dessert! We brought in a heavy hitter, Ritz-Carlton Boston Common pastry chef Bouchaib Errafiy, to work with us and show us the finer points of several desserts. Chef Errafiy spoke about the various differences between all of the flours and sugars that we see these days at our favorite market. The discussion was very lively but I could tell everyone was ready to start making (and tasting!) some great desserts.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Avoiding Diet Busters while Dining Out

Monday, March 25, 2013 | 8:50 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments


With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Melissa Pryputniewicz

One of the biggest challenges that people who are trying to lose weight face is dining away from home. It is very easy to control what you are eating when you are buying and preparing what goes on your dish each night. It is much harder to make good decisions when you are faced with a restaurant menu. Not only are there a large variety of options (temptation enough), but also you are often in different circumstances than when you are eating at home. You may be out with co-workers who don’t know you are on a diet or you may be over hungry after waiting for your reservation. Several studies have found that away-from-home consumption of food, especially fast food consumption, is linked to a higher intake of calories. Keep the following tips in mind to avoid diet pitfalls while you are dining out.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Cooking 101 Recap: Week VI

Thursday, March 21, 2013 | 12:15 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , No comments


by Chris Jennings, Northeastern Dining Quality Assurance Manager

Braising – Sauteing – Pan Frying – Steaming. These were just some of the cooking techniques demonstrated this week in the latest segment of Cooking 101. The main topic of focus were dry and moist heat cooking methods.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Healthy Snacking & National Nutrition Month

Friday, March 15, 2013 | 9:08 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments


A college student's lifestyle can be extremely hectic, leaving little time to think about planning food options during the day. As a student it is important to have some healthy, low-cost food items on hand for snacking throughout the day especially when you have a busy schedule with very few real breaks. Choosing a snack that contains whole grains and some protein together can provide you with a feeling of fullness, which is helpful if you have long stretches between meals. Here are some examples of great snacks to have on hand:

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Cooking 101 Recap: Week V

Wednesday, March 13, 2013 | 8:53 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , No comments


by Campus Executive Chef Tom Barton

Hi everyone! Last night we had the fifth week of our Cooking 101 class and we had a great time talking with all of our student chefs about the oh so popular subject of side dishes. While it can be a bland topic, we instead focused on some of the more nontraditional, but increasingly popular, starches and vegetables available at your local market.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Cooking 101 Recap: Week IV

Friday, March 1, 2013 | 2:44 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , No comments


by Northeastern Dining Quality Assurance Manager Chris Jennings

We dove right into stocks and sauces this week. Chef Tom had a beautiful chicken stock already simmering before class started. The aroma filtered thru the XK and set the tone for a stimulating experience on how to create your own stocks and sauces.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Fitting in Fitness During the Winter

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 | 3:57 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , , No comments


With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Melissa Pryputniewicz

Winter is probably one of the least popular times of year. The days are shorter, the weather is gloomy and can be brutal – sometimes it feels as though winter will never end! For many reasons, people are less active during the winter months. Some people develop mild depression during the winter while others don't want to travel in the snow or cold to go to work let alone go to the gym. Even though it would be nice to curl up and hibernate, it is important to be physically active during these chilly winter months.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Water: We Can't Live Without It!

Friday, February 22, 2013 | 11:33 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , No comments


Water is an essential nutrient and is involved in a variety of body functions, including regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients and oxygen to cells, and carrying waste products out of the body. But how do you know how much is enough - or too much?

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Cooking 101 Recap: Week III

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 | 12:28 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , No comments


Hi everyone! Chef Barton here with our weekly Cooking 101 recap. After a week off last Tuesday so everyone could enjoy Mardi Gras, we got back on schedule last night with session three of our Cooking 101 series. This week featured the "Garde Manger," or cold section of the kitchen.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Three Easy Steps to Keeping Your Heart Healthy

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 | 9:38 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments


With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Melissa Pryputniewicz

The heart's main function is to pump blood throughout your body. Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your organs and carries waste products like carbon dioxide to be excreted from the body. When you think about it, the heart is a pretty important organ - and it is one that many young people take for granted.

It is very easy to think that you don’t have to start worrying about your heart health until your 40s, but the truth is that many behaviors you are engaging in now have an impact on your heart health later in life.

So, what puts you at risk for developing heart disease?

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Cooking 101 Recap: Week II

Wednesday, February 6, 2013 | 11:51 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments


Chris Jennings - Northeastern Dining Quality Assurance Manager

We rolled right into Session II of the Cooking 101 series last evening in the XK. Before you start cooking your food, it is generally a good idea to cut it to your needs; so we worked on knife skills.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | 9:26 AM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , No comments


With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Melissa Pryputniewicz

A new year brings the hope and promise of new starts. This makes it the perfect time for people to make resolutions to change certain behaviors. But even with good intentions many people don’t succeed in keeping their resolutions. A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that only half of the people who made a resolution stuck with it after six months. So you may be asking, what are the keys to success?

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Cooking 101 Recap: Week I

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 | 2:37 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , , , No comments


Hi everyone! Campus Executive Chef Tom Barton here. Last night we had the first session of our nine week Cooking 101 class -- and we had a blast! Our ten lucky students joined Northeastern Dining's Nutritionist Christine Clark, Quality Assurance Manager Chris Jennings, and myself for a lot of great interactive discussions.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Behind the Scenes of H3's New 2013 Menu

Thursday, January 3, 2013 | 2:45 PM Posted by Northeastern Dining , , , , No comments


As I write this post, I am getting ready to send the truck back out on campus to roll out our winter offerings. In my last post on the history of food trucks, I said that in this post I would discuss the future of food trucks. However, there are more timely things to discuss and I would like to instead use this post to provide a peek into the exciting world of menu creation and what kind of factors we take into consideration throughout the menu planning process for the Hungry Hungry Husky.