Chartwells promotes health and wellness initiatives through our Eat Learn Live philosophy. We ensure that students are nourished with great food and healthy menu options through our Balanced Choices® program. We help teach students to eat responsibly by promoting healthy well-balanced meals and a well-rounded lifestyle. We pay attention to dietary sensitivities or requirements and do our best to accommodate special needs.
For Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services, Balanced Choices® is the foundation from which a comprehensive, division-wide wellness program was built. The Balanced Choices® program promotes a healthy lifestyle and healthier eating habits through extensive, specially developed recipes, portion control guidelines and intense associate training. The program also supports Chartwells social responsibility and sustainable food initiatives.
Balanced Choices® provides nutrition information, dietary guidelines, Vegan, Vegetarian and reduced calorie and fat options standards. It also identifies functional foods that could provide additional health benefits to individuals. The program goal is for our students and clients to obtain a better understanding of nutrition and wellness by providing healthier menu options and promoting food quality and not quantity.
Healthy food concepts are a big part of Chartwells' Balanced Choices® program. In 2001, Chartwells developed the Terra Ve vegan/vegetarian food concept. Terra Ve brings a variety of tasty, meat-free dishes to students who choose not to eat animal-based foods and invites meat-eating students to learn about the virtues and flavors of vegetarian cuisine. The Terra Ve concept has been honored with the MenuMasters Award for Best On-Site Menu for its innovative, healthy fare.
The Total Health brochure series entitled "When All Health Breaks Loose" is an informational pamphlet containing health conscious tips and facts which help encourage a healthy lifestyle and eating habits among college students. The content is written by nutrition experts and students in a peer-to-peer, fun, and easily communicated format. The program also promotes the "Meatless Monday" and "Healthy Monday" campaigns which encourages students to skip eating meat one day of the week and take up a healthy habit. The campaign is also used in conjunction with our Balanced Choices¨ program.
Pulse on Dining (POD) is a Chartwells brand that is truly unique and unlike anything available within campus food service operations today. POD is not ordinary cafeteria-style dining and is recognized as college dining at its best with contemporary and modern flare. Pulse on Dining uses a generational approach to cater to the needs of today's college students and has changed the face of residential food service. POD involves active participation and interactions from the students and staff which delivers a complete and satisfying experience during meal time. It is 100% responsive and accommodating to the needs of the current generation of college student.
- —Andrew Lipson, Resident District Manager, University of North Carolina Charlotte
