Nutrition & Dining Alternatives
Staying healthy and fit starts with eating right, and at Duke, there are plenty of healthy dining options available. Duke Dining is committed to providing faculty, staff and students with a variety of nutritious food choices on campus.
The Duke community includes people from all over the world with different tastes and eating habits. Our diverse offerings are among the reasons that Duke has been ranked as the best in the nation for healthy campus food, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Duke also has a strong commitment to sustainability with 70 percent of Duke Dining’s food waste composted, as well as ongoing efforts to source more food from local farms. To learn more about “green” dining at Duke, visit Duke Sustainability.
Nutrition Videos
Whether you're new to Duke or curious about what kind of dining options are best for you, there’s always a dietitian to help point you in the right direction. In the videos below, Director of Nutrition Services - Student Health Franca Alphin answers some common questions posed to her by members of the Duke community.
Questions about dining or personal eating habits? Ask the Duke dietitian – she can answer questions on any subject, from alcohol to zinc.
Vegetarian Choices
Duke supports you in your choice of a vegetarian diet. Maintaining a vegetarian or vegan diet can be part of a healthy lifestyle, although as with any diet, it requires smart food choices. We encourage Duke community members to make informed nutritional decisions, and we’re here to help.
Multi-Cultural Choices
Duke offers numerous choices for anyone seeking multi-cultural food options or with dietary restrictions based on cultural or religious beliefs.
Devil's Advocate On-Campus Eatery Guide
Do you have trouble choosing good tasting, healthy food to eat on campus? This booklet contains suggestions to help you choose balanced, healthy choices at each and every Duke Campus eatery. All foods fit into a healthy diet, as long as they are balanced and eaten in moderation. Use this booklet only as it is meant to be, a guide. Several of the well-balanced, nutritious options for each location are noted, but they are not the only options in a healthy diet. Use the tips and suggestions to develop your own style of healthy dining.
Healthy Merchant on Points (MOP) Choices
Here's a guide to to help you choose some of the more nutritious options
from the restaurants that participate in Duke’s Merchants on Points Program,
along with a few healthy eating tips.
Food Allergies
Food allergies can be mild to severe or even life threatening and therefore need to be taken very seriously. Nut, nut oil and shellfish allergies are particularly severe in nature, and identification of these allergens has been specifically targeted at Duke. Anyone who has general questions about food allergies may contact, Franca Alphin, Director of Nutrition Services, at (919) 613-7486 or via email at franca.alphin@duke.edu.
Balance Your Plate
Balance Your Plate is an educational campaign, sponsored by Duke Student Health, Duke Dining and Bon Appétit, intended to address the “how to” of healthy eating at a glance. A plate that regularly reflects choices from all food groups, in moderate portions, is a practical and easy way to stay healthy and manage your weight.