5 Ways to Create a Healthy Cafeteria Menu

Whether you’re overseeing a school, hotel or hospital cafeteria food, you know that creating a menu can be tricky. Sure, everyone loves the go-to options like pizza, chicken tenders and sandwiches, but what about those healthier options?

From leafy greens to low-calorie sides, there are many healthy menu ideas to use. If you’re stuck, here are five basic ways to create a healthy cafeteria menu for your establishment.

Incorporate Light Entrée Choices

There are a wide variety of entrée-style dishes served in a cafeteria, from macaroni and meatloaf to stir fry and tacos. Consider offering alternative options that are lighter but still filling. For instance, a chicken penne pasta dish with broccoli and a garlic olive oil sauce has the perfect balance of protein, fats and calories needed for a meal.

You also can put a twist on some standards. Instead of making dishes with white rice, use brown rice or quinoa. Both are low-calorie options that are still hearty and filling. When it comes to pizza, try coming up with some flatbread creations to cut back on carbs. Using less cheese and meat toppings also limits the number of calories and grams of fat. No matter what you choose to offer, be sure each entrée is offered in proper portions.

Substitute Sandwiches with Wraps

Wraps are another way to create a healthy cafeteria menu for schools, corporations, hospitals, public buildings or anywhere else. Sandwiches are popular for breakfast and lunch because they’re packed with the essentials to get folks through the day. But unless you’re using select whole-grain and wheat breads, many white breads and rolls are usually packed with calories and carbs. For those looking to lower their intake, offer some of the same sandwiches in the form of wraps. You’ll find a wide variety of tortillas made from flour, whole grain and even spinach.

The key, however, is to choose tortilla wraps that aren’t high in calories and carbs. Some of the ones sold in your local supermarket can be close to 220 calories and 30 grams of carbs per tortilla. In comparison, white bread usually hovers around 140 calories and 25 grams of carbs for two slices. Using a smaller tortilla not only can cut down on calories and carbs, but it also helps eliminate waste.

One way you can get REALLY healthy is by using lettuce wraps. A large leaf of iceberg lettuce has two calories and less than one gram of carbs. All you need to do is take a large lettuce leaf and wrap it around your ingredients.

Load Up on Salads and Fruits

Salads can be served as entrées or sides and are another great way to create a healthy cafeteria menu. While everyone enjoys iceberg or romaine lettuces, spinach and kale are even healthier. Both are leafy greens that keep you full and have a wide variety of nutrients like Vitamin A and C. When it comes to toppings, a selection of chopped veggies, fruits, nuts and oil-based dressings are a must. They’re much more nourishing and lower in calories than croutons, cheeses and creamy dressings.

Having plenty of fruit on your cafeteria menu is always a good idea. Many fruits not only make great snacks and sides, but they also can be very filling. Aside from apples, grapes and watermelon, try featuring new choices throughout the year. Serve pears and oranges as a “fruit of the day” once a week, or feature tropical varieties like mango or pineapple a few times during warmer months.

How you serve your fruits and salads is up to you. They can be offered fresh from a salad bar and cold table, or you can have them prepackaged in a refrigeration unit.

Have Alternatives to Chips and Fries

Chips and French fries are typically a default snack or side dish, but they can be high in calories, fat and sodium. Offer your patrons plenty of guilt-free desserts and sides as a substitute. We already covered why having fruit on your cafeteria menu is a good idea, but think about some ways to serve mixes of different fruits. For example, a fruit cocktail featuring melons and grapes is a delicious, filling and healthy snack or side.

Carrots, celery and other veggies are always solid choices, but you should have some non-produce items as well. Dairy-based foods like yogurt and cottage cheese are rich in calcium, protein and magnesium. Your cafeteria also should feature some on-the-go snacks. When offered at the right portions, granola bars, trail mixes and almonds are great sources of fiber, protein and good fats.

Opt for Smaller Plates & Cups

Studies have shown time and time again that people eat and drink less when using smaller plates and cups. It’s called the delboeuf illusion, and it can be applied to cafeterias to prevent food waste and overeating. As it turns out, smaller dishes are one of the healthiest items you can put on a cafeteria menu.

To get an idea of how much plate size matters, a study reportedly found that participants given a large container of M&Ms ate 129% more (199 calories) compared to those given a small one. It’s nothing new to science, but the health implications are staggering, considering the amount of effort involved. Changing plate sizes rather than daily portion sizes not only keeps patrons full but also satisfied.

The same goes for drinks as well. Everyone loves a surgery beverage every now and again. It’s not healthy, nor is it practical to completely eliminate an entire food group–or fun–from your diet. But eating and drinking in moderation is. That’s why offering smaller glasses for self-serve soda fountain drinks could go a long way in curbing cravings and managing weight.

From menu ideas to kitchen equipment maintenance tips, Parts Town has all the help and inspiration you need to run a cafeteria smoothly.