Shantanu Deshpande

California Aggie

As we’re midway through the first quarter, statistics suggest that 43% of you have already
forgotten about your New Year’s Resolutions. And while this is common, it’s even more
common (48%) for that resolution to be about improving your diet, physical fitness, and general
health. Luckily, this edition of the Aggie has five specific options from the dining hall on how best
to accomplish this specific resolution.

1. Eat a banana!

Every time I go to the dining hall and I see bananas, I grab one on my way out. Often, I’m
finished eating it before I reach the compost bin where I drop the peel. Bananas are convenient,
quick to eat, and they’re an excellent source of potassium—a mineral that most people don’t get
nearly enough of. Additionally, bananas are a source of magnesium, another important mineral
for heart health. Try grabbing one on your way out next time you eat breakfast!

2. Drink more water!

Up to 60% of your body is composed of water, and yet most people are chronically dehydrated,
which can lead to headaches, dizziness, lethargy, and worst of all, skin problems! If you’re not
drinking 2-4 liters of water a day, you could be dehydrated. Besides carrying a water bottle to
your classes, you can try refilling your glass when you get up to get seconds during meals, or
filling your bottle with fruit-infused water from the dining commons! I keep a glass of water by
me at all times while I’m working at my dorm, and it’s done wonders for my water intake.

3. Maintain a healthy schedule!

We’ve all been there—skipping an entire day’s worth of meals and then eating an entire tub of
ice cream or a pack of chips while watching Netflix at 3am. And while I’m not telling you to stop
binging your favorite show, eating meals throughout the day instead of all at once can help keep
your energy levels at a uniform level, as well as helping your blood sugar levels remain normal.
If possible, try to include some carbs, some protein, and some fruits/vegetables in each meal.

4. Try eating breakfast!

For those of you that do, good job! On my part, though, I more commonly skip breakfast than
not, but recently I’ve tried to make myself go, and I think that the breakfast options are the best
of any meal! Try the congee with pork floss and spring onion, or the make-your-own-omelet bar,
they’re consistently good compared to the other offerings which are… hit-or-miss to say the
least. If nothing else, grab an apple fritter on your way to class—your brain will thank you for it.

5. Fish!
This one is a bit more specific, but one major food group I’ve noticed lacking at the dining hall is
fatty fish, which are extremely high in omega-3s. I suppose it’s to be expected, given we’re at
Davis, but still—I make a point to take a portion or two whenever there’s fatty fish available
(salmon or tuna). Sometimes the Tercero Dining Commons has poke bowls or salmon, so make
sure to keep an eye out for those! And if you’re eating at a different dining hall, make sure to
keep a lookout for fish so that UC Davis will eventually take the hint.

As midterms and finals loom around the corner, it’s more important than ever to ensure that
your physical and mental health are in top shape. And if my own experience is anything to go
by, the two are very closely related. Stay hungry Aggies!