Gluten Free

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navy27hopeful

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I try to eat a small amount of gluten/breads just because it helps me prioritize protein and not fill up on carbs. Any insight on if the Academy has good food options that aren't carby/gluteny. Obviously I eat gluten here and there but I try my best to replace it with other food groups. Any thoughts?
 
navy27hopeful said:
I try to eat a small amount of gluten/breads just because it helps me prioritize protein and not fill up on carbs. Any insight on if the Academy has good food options that aren't carby/gluteny. Obviously I eat gluten here and there but I try my best to replace it with other food groups. Any thoughts?
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As you wait for current/recent mids to post, explore:
www.usna.edu

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Info page for Midshipmen Development Center at USNA.edu. Updated Wed Aug 09 12:38:00 EDT 2023.
www.usna.edu

USNA tries to provide variety and choices.
 
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1. Sweet cornbread
2. Navy beans with ham
3. Boiled cabbage

I’m forgetting something …. But anyway … this is all that you really need to eat …

I’ll add “refried potatoes” to the list …
.
 
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navy27hopeful said:
I try to eat a small amount of gluten/breads just because it helps me prioritize protein and not fill up on carbs. Any insight on if the Academy has good food options that aren't carby/gluteny. Obviously I eat gluten here and there but I try my best to replace it with other food groups. Any thoughts?
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my mid does not care for the food at all.....main complaint is it is not healthy and fattening......she figured out another alternative - she did meet with the nutritionist her plebe year too - not many options in King Hall so she got a refrigerator chit and orders healthy meals through a food service for dinner. she eats king hall breakfast and lunch and dinner after practice from her fridge. She does not have any food issues and is not picky but she was just used to eating more healthy before the academy. I think it is tough to serve healthy food to 4000 people!
 
King Hall meals are generally high carb (lots of rice, pasta, bread, and sweets) but there’s always a protein too (usually chicken, beef, or fish. Eggs and sausage in the morning). You can definitely eat a low carb diet, but it might require getting creative, like using the salad bar, or asking neighboring tables if they have any extra chicken.

I found that in King Hall it’s very easy to eat unhealthy, but almost as easy to eat healthy. The dessert table is fully stocked at every meal, but with a little discipline you can skip it and walk elsewhere to find tuna, leafy greens, cooked vegetables, soup, etc.
 
USNAhopeful2025 said:
my mid does not care for the food at all.....main complaint is it is not healthy and fattening......she figured out another alternative - she did meet with the nutritionist her plebe year too - not many options in King Hall so she got a refrigerator chit and orders healthy meals through a food service for dinner. she eats king hall breakfast and lunch and dinner after practice from her fridge. She does not have any food issues and is not picky but she was just used to eating more healthy before the academy. I think it is tough to serve healthy food to 4000 people!
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My daughter has thought about doing this too. What good service does she use?
 
LA rockymnt hi said:
My daughter has thought about doing this too. What good service does she use?
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she uses John's Fit Meals. It is amazing food, fresh and healthy - you pick what you want and make your own meals - he delivers to the yard every monday - half of her team uses him now - he also does meals for many other teams on the yard. yes it costs money but for my daughter it was the answer she needed to eat more balanced nutrition, with fresh veggies, good lean protein and a carb that is healthier. you can google the company online. the meals are put in a microwave container - she just heats up in the ward room and eats - have to have a refrigerator to do this - and for plebes, you have to have a chit for that, with letter from the nutritionist - she needed a chit for this year too as a youngster - I think 2C can have 1 fridge per room without chit but I am not 100% on that.......I dont know all the rules. highly recommend johns fit meals!!!
 
A food service is tough to do on $125/month (as a Plebe). Probably tough on 3/C pay as well.
 
DD1 has been vegetarian for the last 3 years while at the Yard. She has no problem eating well at King Hall, it just requires exploring the options that are actually available. She has had other meds come up to her and ask, "Where did you find THAT?"

You just have to look.

She admits, though, that she is looking forward to cooking for herself in Monterey this coming year.
 
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What is all this food service $$$ talk? …. I did the work already … see my list above …. There is No healthier substitute for my list …. I’ll repeat here again …

1. Sweat cornbread
2. Navy beans with ham
3. Boiled cabbage
4. Refried potatoes

For dessert … bread pudding … mix it with rice

Take fresh bananas and apples to go …

This is the King Hall premium plan …
.
 
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IronmanDaremo said:
A food service is tough to do on $125/month (as a Plebe). Probably tough on 3/C pay as well.
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well of course that is correct, but I am happy to help her eat healthy!! it is much cheaper and better than door dash! meals run about $10 a meal and he delivers for free. he is coming to the yard anyway with tons of meals for tons of midshipmen
 
As I get older, I am appreciating eating healthier, fresh foods. And my son is excited to learn how to cook in Cuba.

So if you can afford it- hats off to you.

I am just thankful my son has expanded his eating to include cherries on his milkshake, cheese on hamburgers, onions, pickles.

He must have worked out a lot - because he ate at USNA and liked it.

Baby steps for my grown @## ensign. ;)
 
Eating at USNA, is like eating at any other college. It’s dorm food. My current Mid eats very healthy. Like any buffet, the cheap carbs are there. But sticking your protein on a salad, for example, is also an option.

There ARE ways to eat healthy. Without a supplemental food service. My first reaction to John’s Fit Meals, is that he has a niche market, and word of mouth, with athletes. Who have further issues with their workouts and team duties conflicting with dinner meal time.

So readers, don’t freak out that your kid won’t have proper nutrition or healthy options. They do. And if more is desired, it looks like there are ways to do that, as well. ESPECIALLY with the many delivery services available now (Safeway delivers groceries for free, for example).

And USNA has a ‘fueling station’ offering protein drinks/bars/snacks etc. available outside King Hall hours.

I’ve eaten in King Hall (you can do that when you visit, with tickets purchased by you Mid. IF they say yes 😆) a couple times. And been impressed. Sure, there are ‘bad’ meals. But there are also good ones. I had 2nds of the salmon dish at 2/C parents weekend!
 
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