New Environment New Perspective

In the past couple of years Wheaton's two major dining facilities have undergone some major renovations. Chase dining hall (the schools largest dining facility) and Emerson dining hall (located on upper campus) are the main source of food for Wheaton College students on a daily basis. After years and years of the same old dining halls both received major face lifts along with some update in the food as well in the past two years.

Lets start with Chase dining hall. As the main dining hall on Wheaton's campus there are hundreds of students in and out of this facility all day long, seven days a week! Talking with some upper classmen around campus who have experienced both the old chase and the new chase once it was renovated say that the difference and improvement is amazing! It is much more bright and inviting then it was before which creates a nice environment to be in while you are enjoying your meals.

Chase Dining Hall - Before Renovation
Wheaton College, MA

Chase Dining Hall - After Renovation
Wheaton College, MA

Emerson dining hall also underwent a renovation which elevated the whole atmosphere of the dining experience there. Kate Dransfield, class of 2019, says "the atmosphere that the newly renovated Emerson creates gives the Wheaton College campus a larger/more upscale vibe". She discussed with me how at other schools she visited with larger campuses usually had some sort of name brand restaurant or cafe on the campus. This brought a more high quality feel to the campus as well as a feeling of not necessarily being on campus but out in the real world. Dransfield said "the environment plays a big part in how you think and feel about the food you are consuming".

Emerson Dining Hall - After Renovation
Wheaton College, MA

The actual food at these two dining locations on campus has also undergone some major changes since the last school year. Chase used to be known for only serving food that was very unhealthy for you and would not be good for your body. There was a big shift after the renovation to try and cut out as much of the unhealthy food as possible and really try and create healthier options for the students at Wheaton College. Although Chase still struggles with a lack of diversity within the food they have defiantly pushed to keep us healthier.

Late night snacking.

Now deep into the depths of finals, I've experienced more students than ever in the library until all odd hours of the night, understandably so, considering final papers and exams can make-or-break GPAs. With students out and about, scurrying to study and finish assignments, snacks have been made available in the library to keep energy levels up and provide support to students who otherwise might feel alone or hopeless. However, with these snack food sand drinks being made available to students at later hours of the night, it makes me wonder how advantageous they really are for late night work?

Growing up I was always told not to eat right before bed because my body wouldn't properly digest the food that I'm consuming during my slumber and/or it would leave my stomach feeling uneasy and I wouldst get a "good nights rest." This lesson may still hold some merit today because overeating, especially before bed, means your body isn't receiving adequate time to process foods at the rate at which it needs to. However, according to HealthySimpleLife.com, a forum for dietary Q&As, it's suggested that feeding your late night cravings with small portions of healthy snacks can actually stimulate weight loss and provide you with a more satisfying sleep. By snacking on something small and healthy prior to bed, you're stimulating your metabolism and providing your body with calories to burn through the night while you recover for the next day.

So for my fellow late night studiers, good luck to you with your exams! Don't feel guilty snacking so long as it's healthy and it provides you with sufficient energy through finals week!

"I can't wait for a home-cooked meal"

In the midst of finals, I've encountered more than a  handful of students who have expressed exhaustion in light of all the work they've done and have to do prior to going home for Christmas break. This reaction is understandable considering this time of year is especially stressful and the thought of being home and celebrating the holidays with loved ones sounds especially appealing to most. I know I personally cant wait to be home with my family in Lancaster, Pa. However, when asked 'what he's most looking forward to during his holiday break?' Sophomore, Curran Wait, told me he couldn't wait for a home-cooked meal.

This made me think about about the holiday feasts that await and, however, exciting that they may be it made me realize that the accessibility of food and the variety of food available at school at any given time isn't anything to be looked past. When it comes to quality vs. quantity, the food available at Chase and Emerson dining halls has gotten exponentially better over this past year under the supervision of Scott O'Rourke. Eating Thanksgiving turkey and mashed potatoes in Chase didn't even compare to the Thanksgiving feast I experienced with my family, however, it's made me develop a greater appreciation of everything the dining services at Wheaton is trying to provide for us.

Don't get me wrong, I eagerly await the holidays and the meals that coincide with them. However, the spring semester will come quickly and I'm excited to see what dining services has in store of us!

North Works: A Local Eatery

As a commuter student who is off the meal plan, unfortunately I am not privy to all of the insights you all have about dining on campus.  However, as a local boy I know all the hot spots and places to get a good bite to eat in the area! So when Chase and Emerson are getting you down, consider this off campus option.

One of my favorite destinations is North Works, a small little eatery located on Washington St. in North Attleborough.  If you have the means to make your way there, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.  The menu offers everything from soups, salads, and sandwiches to full scale entree items.  And be sure to save room because they also function as a fully operational bakery with desserts that are both decadent and delicious.

North Works offers take out and catering services as well, making it a great option for any party or banquet you may have.  It is a common choice for my family when we have everyone over for the holidays.

If you do end up making it to North Works, my personal favorites are the lobster bisque and the Cubano Sandwich (pictured below).  Get whatever you like, but for lobster lovers, the bisque is a must.  Come on in sometime and maybe, just maybe, I'll see you there.

Maintaining Weight: The Athlete's Struggle

As an athlete and somebody who lives with 5 other athletes there is constant discussion in our room about how to maintain weight while eating from the dining hall. All of us have different strategies because our bodies react in different ways. However we all have a need to maintain our weight and strength so that we can perform at our best in our given sports. When asked my roommates Ben and Q  both offered similar answers to how they maintain weight. “For me it’s all about consuming as many calories as I can, I look for things like burgers, fries and ice cream because it allows me to get the most calories at once”. For them this strategy works wonders as they have naturally fast metabolisms and the options for calorie rich foods in chase are few and far between.

Myself as well as my roommates Tim and Tommy have a much different strategy. We cannot go for these more empty calories because even though we are exercising as much as we are we will not burn these excess calories off. Rather we like to stick to a plan of consuming larger portions of healthier foods. Things such as spinach, chicken, peanut butter, and wheat bread.

These differing strategies come from differing needs that result in  performance. One of the biggest things I have learned in my almost 4 years of eating chase is that you need to find the best foods for you. I have had four basketball seasons here at Wheaton and have attempted to tweak my diet each year to try and maximize my results and each year I find a new trick at chase that helps me to maintain my weight and my strength.