First year at Meal Hall on a 17-meal-per-week plan can seem daunting when you're trying to maintain a healthy diet. I found that shovelling spinach, cucumbers, tuna and balsamic vinegar onto a ceramic plate is not was satisfying as I wanted it to be. From my years of experience, I have created some fail-proof healthy meal hall hacks. 

It can be tempting to give up on meal hall all together and hit up Tall and Small whenever lunch time rolls around. Unfortunately, the classic Turkey Pesto isn’t great for you bank account. 

DIY Turkey Pesto Wrap

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:0
  • Total Time:5 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • Whole wheat tortilla
  • Hummus
  • Pesto
  • Turkey slices or chunks
  • Tomato slices
  • Lettuce and/or spinach
  • Cucumber
fish, seafood, lettuce, vegetable, salad
Saleyka Calvillo
  • Step 1

    This recipe is pretty straight-forward. First, layer all the good stuff in your tortilla and wrap it up.

  • Step 2

    Place your wrap in the panini press until it's warm.

#SpoonTip: toss some goat cheese in there from the make your own pizza station (ask nicely) and you’ll be on a one-way trip to flavour town.

My Kitchen Smoothie

  • Prep Time:10 mins
  • Cook Time:0
  • Total Time:10 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • Banana
  • Spinach
  • Frozen fruits in the My Kitchen freezer
  • WOWBUTTER in the cabinet on the left the fridge
  • Yogurt My Kitchen fridge/dessert section
  • Granola
Paula Kreutzer
  • Step 1

    Toss everything except the granola in that Vitamix and blend well. Use water to thin it out if needed.

  • Step 2

    Bring your own bowl from the cereal section and pour your smoothie creation in. Top with granola.

#SpoonTip: style points if you find additional toppings like sliced banana. 

Chicken Burrito

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:2 mins
  • Total Time:7 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Medium

    Ingredients

  • Whole wheat tortilla
  • Chicken from salad bar
  • Spinach
  • Tomato
  • Green pepper
  • Rice from the entrée area
  • Guacamole 4/5 times there is premade guac in the My Kitchen fridge say a little prayer and go check
  • Optional Salad Bar Items; beans salsa grilled veggies and red onion
beer, bread, pizza
Emma Weir
  • Step 1

    First, warm up the frozen chicken pieces from salad bar. You can either microwave them or throw them on the panini press with a little bit of cooking spray and let them get crispy.

  • Step 2

    Throw everything in the tortilla with whatever other burrito fillings your heart desires. Add flavour with hot sauce or peppers.

  • Step 3

    The panini press is a must with this recipe to warm everything through and give you that real SUB Café burrito feel.

Grilled WOWBUTTER and Banana Sandwhich

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:2 mins
  • Total Time:7 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Medium

    Ingredients

  • Whole wheat bread
  • WOWBUTTER My Kitchen cabinets
  • Banana if there aren’t any good ones in the fruit section hit up the smoothie area in My Kitchen
  • Optional; apple slices honey a dash cinnamon sugar
cake, pie
Rachel Dickey
  • Step 1

    Prep this guy just like your mom would make you a PB&J. Slice the banana and arrange it on a slice of bread with a layer of WOWBUTTER.

  • Step 2

    Toast your sammie on the panini press.

#SoupGoals

  • Prep Time:2 mins
  • Cook Time:0
  • Total Time:2 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • Your soup choice Spiced Sweet Potato is my go-to
  • Rice
  • Cooked veggies from the entrée area
  • Beans
  • Chicken or tofu
  • Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Mushrooms
  • Shredded carrots
  • Siracha
cake, tea
Rachel Dickey
  • Step 1

    Add protein and rice to turn the broth into a hearty and filling lunch.

  • Step 2

    Add in the vegetables to add nutrients in your meal.

  • Step 3

    Siracha or other dried spices from the stir fry area allow you to be truly creative with your soup masterpiece.

Microwave Apple Crumble

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:5 mins
  • Total Time:10 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Medium

    Ingredients

  • Apple
  • Cinnamon sugar
  • Granola
  • Yogurt or ice cream
corn, milk, sweet, cereal
Maggie Gorman
  • Step 1

    Cut up the apple into bite-sized chunks and toss it with some cinnamon sugar in a soup bowl.

  • Step 2

    Microwave for about three minutes until the apple is nice and saucy and as soft as you like.

  • Step 3

    Top with meal hall granola and vanilla yogurt or a little bit of ice cream. This treat will satisfy your craving and is the perfect compliment to any healthy meal hall dining experience.

Everyone is prone to head to the meal hall poutine or burger bar. As long as you're keeping it balanced with a blend of salads and other healthy mains then there's no need to stress about the occasional piece (or pieces) of cake. Hopefully these recipes can help you switch up the healthy options.