NC State’s dining services offer a variety of food options for students on campus. From the dining halls, to the cultural food options in Talley Student Union and the Atrium, students have multiple possibilities when looking for their next bite to eat. However, this luxury of freedom to choose meals on the go isn’t always offered to athletes because of their hectic schedules.
Dealing with practice schedules, tutoring and classes, athletes may find it hard to receive high-quality meals throughout their days. Case Dining Hall is an on-campus dining hall that offers specialized meals for athletes throughout the week, exclusively for dinner.
The director of board operations and sustainability for NC State’s dining halls, Keith Smith, highlighted some of the differences between Case’s dinner and the other dining halls on campus.
“Case has a platform for display cooking which is a big difference between Case and the other dining halls,” Smith said. “It’s open to all students for breakfast and lunch, but not dinner. The meal for athletes is paid by athletics and not a part of the meal plan.”
Another difference between Case and the other dining halls is the food and beverages offered. Unlike the other dining halls, Case focuses on healthier options based on the meal plans that the team dieticians provide to the chefs.
“For regular dining halls, the chefs at the dining hall put together a menu,” Smith said. “For athletics, coaches and team dieticians put together a menu for the athletes. Students also get to put suggestions in for the meals. We want the food to help fuel their bodies because athletes go through so many calories a day. We have to make sure they’re eating properly. Lean proteins, pasta dishes, fresh seasoned vegetables, yogurt and fruits are some of the foods offered daily. There is also an absence of soda, sugary drinks and desserts at Case.”
Within the athletics program, there are many athletes from different countries, so they desire certain types of foods. The team dieticians and chefs take this into consideration when planning meals. Foods from various cultures are offered to cater to the student-athletes from all parts of the world.
“We try to satisfy all of our athletes,” Smith said.
Another reason Case is beneficial for athletes is the convenience of having dinner and study hall in the same building, according to Smith.
“Also, coaches can come over and interact with the athletes which is very convenient for them,” Smith said.
Smith described Case Dining Hall’s use as a refueling station for the athletes.
“We add in more salt and more seasoning to the vegetables at Case than other dining halls because the athletes lose a lot of salt because of sweating,” Smith said. “Case’s primary use is to refuel the athletes’ bodies after a day of exhaustion. Items are geared toward refueling. No fried foods. Lot of fish, lean beef, pork and chicken.”
Refueling and staying hydrated is a key process for an adequate athletic performance, and NC State holds this value high in regard to its student-athletes. By offering Case’s specialized dinners, it allows the athletes to refuel their bodies with the proper nutrients needed for practice or their next contest. The convenience and service of Case helps gear student-athletes toward success and optimal performance for NC State Athletics.
