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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Eating Well at Cornell's residential dining rooms: A Guide to Balanced Dining

Did you know that Cornell Dining has an Eating Well initiative? This program helps students make informed choices about healthy eating patterns—and you can put it into action right at every dining room!

Build a balanced plate

When deciding what to eat, think about balance. Here’s how:

  1. Fill Half Your Plate with Fruits & Vegetables
    All dining rooms offer a variety of colorful produce every day. Eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables provides essential vitamins and minerals—so go ahead and mix it up! You can also add extra veggies to meals, like bok choy in ramen or tomatoes in a taco bowl.
     
  2. Choose Whole Grains for a Quarter of Your Plate
    Whole grains, such as brown rice and quinoa, are packed with fiber to keep you full and support gut health. Try adding whole-grain options whenever possible!
     
  3. Incorporate Protein for a Quarter of Your Plate
    Both animal-based and plant-based proteins are great choices. Nuts, seeds, beans, and tofu are excellent plant-based options, and you can always mix and match for variety.

Enjoy your meal with friends

Eating with others isn’t just fun—it also helps reduce stress and supports mental well-being. Try inviting a friend to share your favorite dish at the dining room. Don’t forget, you can use guest swipes to bring friends who aren’t on a meal plan, or you can use take out containers to eat with friends outside of the dining room. So grab a meal with friends and enjoy the dining experience together!

Want to learn more about Eating Well or need help with dietary needs? Contact Cornell Dining’s dietitians at diningnutrition@cornell.edu.

Students hold a sign that says Eating Well with Cornell Dining with a list of tips

About Cornell Dining

Cornell Dining is consistently ranked in the Princeton Review's top ten for best campus food among all colleges and universities in the country! That high rating comes from customer surveys, and reflects Cornell Dining's commitment to serving high-quality foods that are healthy and creatively prepared with genuine care for a diverse community. Cornell Dining operates over 30 on-campus eateries -- which include residential dining rooms, cafés, coffeehouses, food courts, and convenience stores -- and serves more than 23,000 meals a day to members of the Cornell community. For more information, visit dining.cornell.edu.