Help! I知 at college for the summer and my cafeteria serves a lot of carbs! This is a problem because I知 also vegetarian and insulin-resistant. For example, today my lunch consisted of a small cup of mac and cheese and coleslaw. For dinner I had one baked potato with sour cream and cheese. I also had a baked potato last week and I had scalloped potatoes last week. I know it痴 awful! I do intense cardio most days, but I知 afraid that if I keep eating like this, I知 going to gain weight! I致e been on campus for 2 weeks and I have 3 more weeks of cafeteria food/carbs to digest! Suggestions?

what else do they serve that you can eat?

^ Salads and cheese off of pizza. The soups usually are nasty. Salads get boring.

So get a salad (watch dressings, obviously) and rotate the side you have with it, rather than choosing two sides every day. Like:
Day one:Salad and mac n' cheese
Day Two: Salad and baked potato
Day Three: Salad and Scallop potato

Or whatever other carb happy option you can choose. That way, the bulk of your meal is healthy, but you have a rotating side to keep the meal interesting. Campus food is notoriously high in calorie, but you're only there for three more weeks.

do they not have vegetarian meal options like tofu or bean dishes?

Boring or not, salad is your only option if you're eating low carb and vegetarian.

Dining halls can be worked with, but those two dietary restrictions are almost mutually exclusive if you're not pescatarian. I'd pick going normal low carb and just eat some animal based foods, at least cottage cheese/sour cream/eggs. You can be a vegetarian in college, you can be low carb in college, but the specialty products and menu you need to be a healthy low carb vegetarian just aren't really available in a dining hall. Could you supplement your meal plan with buying your own tofu and pea protein shakes, at least? Natto? Oysters?

I went to a small college for my first 2 years and I ate a sandwich almost every meal. I had no real interest in the hot meals but I was able to have a sandwich and a bunch of veggies from the sandwich bar. Is there a sandwich or salad bar?

They do have tofu and bean dishes, but not often enough. It's the summer so the options are limited.

I have a large canister of protein shake mix (GNC brand) at home, but I would drink it with almond milk. I am biking distance from a Piggly Wiggly, but Idk if they sell almond milk. My family would have to send me the protein shake mix anyway....UNLESS I get some in Madison this weekend or bike to the nearest GNC.

There is also a sandwich bar, so I could always make cheese-and-lettuce wraps.

This is off-topic a little, but what are your opinions on the GNC Lean Shakes?

What about ordering your protein powder online? You can always get a free trial of Amazon Prime with an .edu address, if the cost of shipping is the problem.

College cafeterias are the worst. Good luck.

Well, I'll see what Mom says. Otherwise I think the stuff at home would go to waste because no one drinks it.

And yes, college cafeterias are the worst! #2moreyears

I'd be buying canned fish (which I do anyway) and nomming that down with tons of salad. I'd be in heaven.

Salad already *prepared*...

My ultimate fantasy.

Salad isn't boring when you vary the protein choices. That's what I learned.

I'm truly baffled by this entire thread.

How do you normally eat when you're at home?

How do you know you're insulin resistant?

How is eating a baked potato going to make you fat exactly?

You have to have your protein shake with almond milk? Seriously?

Fat gain or loss is a matter of calories. If you're doing "intense cardio" and watching your portion size this seems like a lot of histrionics for what is going to last only three more weeks.

It's hard eating at home.
I have PCOS and I take Metformin. Blood tests, I guess?
I don't know if eating a baked potato will make me "fat," but I don't want diabetes!

Canned wild salmon with salad. Will kick PCOS to the curb. And help you lose weight. Job done.