To be frank, there is no such thing as a “superfood.” However, the term was coined to describe foods with important nutrients that enhance a healthy eating pattern. “Superfoods” describe foods that have multiple amazing benefits, so they begin to seem as though they have superpowers. We can embrace these “powers” by welcoming these foods into our daily diets.

The list for possible “superfoods” would be endless. Here are some foods that can be found in the dining commons with super nutritious benefits:

• Berries provide disease fighting antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C: These can be found some mornings in our dining commons and in salad stations. Check Build Your Plate to see which day the dining commons may be serving berries.
• Dark Leafy Greens are an amazing source of Vitamin A, calcium, and have ample fiber: In the dining commons you can find dark leafy greens in multiple menu items such as romaine lettuce and spinach in the salad and sandwich bar lines. Spinach can also be found daily in the made-to-order omelet and pasta lines. Dark leafy greens can also be found in rotating hotline menu items like collard greens and the steamed-vegetable-of-the-day.
• Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin, potassium and is one of the only food sources of Vitamin D. It contains probiotics which are ‘good bacteria’ protectingand aiding the digestive system. Yogurt is served at every dining commons’ salad bar or yogurt station.
• Nuts and Seeds are a good source of plant protein, monounsaturated fats, protein, and one of the few sources of Vitamin E: A variety of nuts and seeds can be found in most dining commons. Most school years, the Village Summit grinds roasted peanuts every morning and serves them in their Banana Flip smoothie. Note: Oglethorpe Dining Commons is peanut and tree nut-free, but they do serve sunflower butter daily.
• Legumes such as black, red, garbanzo, and kidney beans are a good source of protein, fiber, powerful antioxidants, and many varying vitamins and minerals: Legumes are served each day in our Dining Commons. A bean of the day is served in each Vegetarian Station and hummus is made from scratch daily using garbanzo, black, and/or Cajun beans.
• such as brown rice, whole heat tortillas, whole wheat pasta, and whole wheat bread are packed with fiber and have several B vitamins that are beneficial to health. Using the entire grain means that disease fighting antioxidants are included in whole grain products. You can get whole grains from a variety of stations within our dining commons including whole wheat pasta at the pasta, whole wheat bread at the deli, whole what buns at the grill stations, brown rice at the vegetarian station, hot breakfast quinoa for breakfast at the mainline, whole wheat bagels at the bagel station, and whole wheat tortillas at O-House’s burrito line.