Nutrition

Healthy Eating

SUNY New Paltz Dining is committed to the health & wellness and our campus community. Providing you with healthy options is something your dining team proudly does every day. We can help you select delicious, nutritious and satisfying meals, snacks and desserts by highlighting well-balanced menu choices and providing nutritional information and tips to help you make choices that fit your needs. Be sure to check out our variety of Registered Dietitian-led nutrition services & events on campus throughout the year so that we can help you grow into the best you!

Meet the Dietitian

Kelly Pearson, RD, CDN, joined SUNY New Paltz Dining Services as the Campus Dietitian in 2021, bringing 9 years of experience as a Registered Dietitian. She believes that a well-nourished body is fundamental to optimizing health, well-being, and academic success. Kelly provides many nutrition services to our students, faculty, and staff including nutrition counseling, guest lectures, workshops and tabling events. Don’t miss out on our popular Kitchen Academy cooking demonstrations that teach cooking skills alongside healthy hacks, and keep an eye out for our nutrition events, like our Fresh Markets.

How can Kelly help you?

• General nutrition information
• Healthy eating on campus
• Food allergies & intolerances
• Fueling athletic performance
• Dietary preferences (i.e. vegan, vegetarian)
• Religious & cultural diets
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Mindful & intuitive eating

Whether your dietary needs are medically necessary or a cultural or lifestyle choice, we’re here to help. Contact Kelly with any questions, large or small, about dining on campus, allergy concerns, if you need support managing a special diet, or if you’re looking to start or maintain a healthier lifestyle.

You can schedule a complimentary meeting with Kelly, virtually or in-person, by emailing her at Kelly.Pearson@sodexo.com or by calling her at (845) 654-3547. Her office is located in Peregrine Dining Hall

Food Allergies

Allergen Labeling

A team approach led by you, our educated consumer, is the best preparation for a safe school year free of allergic reactions. To assure your dietary needs are effectively met while dining on campus, please schedule a meeting with the campus dietitian, Kelly Pearson, to develop a plan that meets your dietary needs.

Please know that we practice caution and proper procedures when preparing food offerings, however, all allergens may be present in our kitchens. We cannot completely eliminate the risk of cross-contact or declare that any item is free of any allergen. Be aware that there may still be a chance for cross-contact on shared surfaces. Guests are advised to consider this information as it relates to their individual dietary needs.

Before placing your order, please inform a dining staff member if you have a food allergy or dietary restriction. If you have dietary questions, please ask to speak directly with a manager.

Our retail dining allergen chart provides you with all the information you need when dining outside of the dining hall.

**Please note, this document is always being updated.

Our menus for Peregrine Dining Hall provide 'contains' statements specifically highlighting the top nine allergens (milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame) and gluten. Guests may check on the presence of allergens prior to planning their meals using the online menu or Everyday App. The information is also posted on menu boards in the Dining Hall. The absence of an allergen listed on posted or electronic signage is not a guarantee that the product is free of that allergen, as other recipes are prepared in the kitchen that do contain food allergens. The guest is responsible for communicating their allergy to a manager to ensure safety.

Simple Zone

Simple Zone, located in Peregrine Dining Hall, is a swipe access pantry where gluten, peanut, and tree nut free food items for are stored with precautions against cross-contact. This area is free of peanuts, tree nuts, and gluten-containing ingredients. Simple Zone has the following items: microwave, toaster, dishes and silverware, refrigerator, and freezer. Food items provided include: breads, bagels, crackers, cereals, sunflower seed butter, donuts, waffles and more. Simple Zone gives students the ability to be involved in their own allergen-safe meal preparation.

To gain swipe access to the pantry, please email Campus Dietitian Kelly Pearson at Kelly.Pearson3@sodexo.com.

Simple Servings

The Simple Servings station, located in Peregrine Dining Hall, provides safe and appetizing food choices for our customers with food allergies, gluten intolerance and those who prefer simple food. All foods served at this station are prepared with ingredients that do not contain milk, eggs, wheat, soy, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, gluten, or sesame. The station uses separate equipment/utensils, preparation areas, and storage areas to minimize the potential of allergens or gluten in our Simple Servings foods.

The station allows students, even those without allergy concerns, to enjoy the wholesome food selections. We ask that guests do not bring food from other stations and only use the plates provided by our servers at Simple Servings.

While the Simple Servings station is designed to allow customers an easy way to avoid allergens and gluten, we encourage our customers with special dietary needs to connect with our registered dietitian. To ensure an enjoyable dining experience.

Kosher and Halal Options

Kosher

Our Kosher Corner in Peregrine Dining Hall has pre-made kosher meals available upon request, with options such as beef brisket, spaghetti and meatballs, boiled chicken and roasted turkey breast. The meals are provided frozen by Spring Valley, and can be warmed up by our employees in our microwave for you.

Halal

Our Simply To Go pre-made meals that contain chicken are made with halal-certified meat. These meals can be purchased at Sweets & Treats, The Nest, Atrium Brew, Element 93 and The Roost. Additionally, we have many vegetarian items across campus, including at Veggin Out in our dining hall. Fish is also served in the dining hall on a rotating basis for lunch and dinner. You can usually find it at the grill or Chef’s Table.

For those who observe Ramadan, Peregrine Dining Hall provides breakfast to-go boxes throughout the month.

Plant-Based Dining

At Peregrine Dining Hall, we offer a vegan/vegetarian station called Veggin Out to fit the needs of plant based students. We offer unique meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner which incorporate fresh and local ingredients. Enjoy hummus with a grilled pita, quinoa stuffed zucchini, chickpea stew, or acorn and butternut squash chili all served with various rice dishes and vegetables. Look for the green vegan icon (green VG) featuring vegan menu items at other stations throughout the week!

New Paltz Dining Services strives to increase the vegan options for our students campus wide. Currently vegan meals are available at Peregrine Dining Hall, Hugo's Fresh Nest, WOW, Element93, Hissho Sushi, SubConnection, Pomodoro's, Atrium Brew, Nesters, Starbucks, Sweets and Treats, Yadi’s Empanadas and The Roost at Ridgeview. If there are ever any questions regarding vegan dining options please feel free to ask a manager. Remember: keep an eye out for "VG" for vegan!

Take a look at our vegan dining options on campus.

Mindful

Mindful is Sodexo's health & wellness approach that helps you make healthy choices second nature! We are committed to creating healthy environments for our customers. Central to this effort is providing healthy, nutritious foods. The result of this initiative is an approach that focuses on transparency of ingredients, delicious food, satisfying portions and clarity in message so that you can make Mindful choices!

Mindful offerings meet stringent nutritional criteria based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Each meal part is limited in calories, has fewer than 30% of calories as fat, fewer than 10 % of calories as saturated fat, and is restricted in sodium, and cholesterol. Look for the Mindful icon to indulge in the healthy and delicious items offered at each meal.

Sodexo's Nutrition Icons

Sodexo's nutrition icons make it easier to make healthy choices. Look for these nutrition icons on the foods being served on your campus to help you meet your dietary needs or desires.

If you need assistance finding the right types of foods for you, please reach out to your on-campus Sodexo manager or chef. If you have additional dietary questions, please contact us so we can help! Sodexo has registered dietitians ready to answer your questions and help you make healthy choices.