Being an adolescent at a boarding school poses many challenges to eating well, but our school provides a variety of resources to help students meet this goal. 

Our energy needs are high. Not only do we use our brains to work all day, but we’re constantly moving from place to place around campus and playing sports in the afternoon. Mr. Mike Webster, general manager of dining services, said, “When you don’t eat well, it will affect your performance in class, on the field, and how you feel in general.” 

Finding time to prepare and eat healthy food can be challenging for us. We may be inclined to sleep in and skip breakfast or work through lunch. Mrs. Michelle Sisk, nutritional counselor, encourages us to prioritize eating in our schedules. She said, “It is important to make time for eating here the same way you would want to have your best eating occasion anywhere else: giving yourself time to eat, not rushing through a meal, making it a social event.”

We often struggle to manage the balance between eating what we want to eat and eating what we need to eat. The Dining Hall works to provide healthy choices like fruits and vegetables at the salad bar, proteins at the stir fry station, and carbohydrates on the hotline. 

Mrs. Sisk urges us to add different colors to our plates at each meal. She said, “A variety of colors means different food groups are being represented, which is what we need!” 

Food is Fuel, a student club, has organized events to help students learn about and maintain healthy eating habits. Last year, the club held workshops on topics ranging from how to navigate the Dining Hall to the benefits of different foods. The club is also in the process of creating a cookbook which will contain simple, healthy recipes to use in the Dining Hall. 

Co-head Nell Dwyer ’24 said, “We plan to continue our work this year by highlighting healthy food options and sharing healthy eating practices. 

“If you provide your body with enough nutrition throughout the day, you will crave unhealthy foods less often. That being said, treating yourself is not bad at all! It is all about balance,” she added. Students should not hesitate to explore the Dining Hall away from the main line or ask specific questions to the Dining Hall staff, Mr. Webster, and Mrs. Sisk.