Food & Nutrition
Nutrition Know-How That Empowers, Food That Delights.
Informed decisions and positive, low-stress experiences around food and eating define the Empowered Wellness nutrition and culinary experience. Our team of nutritionists and culinary professionals has two goals:
- To empower campers with up-to-date nutrition education and practical strategies so they can make successful food and meal choices in every setting – home, school and dining out
- Serve fantastic meals and snacks that respect individual preferences and help campers build decision-making skills around food and eating
Pro tip: How do you know the food is good? Our staff enjoys the same meals we serve our campers!
Meals and Snacks
Served in our own Tropicana Café!
Freshly-prepared & delicious
Three meals and a snack every day, crafted by culinary pros from quality ingredients like market-fresh produce, using our own special recipes
Never institutional or mass-produced
Well-balanced, highly-nutritious whole foods and lots of delicious, good-for-you options.
As tasty as meals at home!
So don't be surprised when burgers and pizza show up on the menu -- smart choices, with just a few small modifications!
Camper's Choice Food Bar
You decide what makes your meal complete
Food that fills you up yet helps you lose weight
Meals start with a balanced serving of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and market-fresh produce – for example, chicken, green beans and couscous
The unique Camper's Choice food bar
Unrestricted access to a wide variety of meal additions: soups, fresh fruits, vegetables, condiments, toppings, sauces, and additional proteins like avocado, nuts, chia seeds, Greek yogurt and scrambled egg whites
Practice makes perfect
Empowers campers to choose additional food if they're still hungry, encourages mindful eating, and helps them practice their new life skills and healthy habits
Nutrition Know-How
Fun, interactive mini-classes
Accurate, up-to-date nutrition knowledge
Remember when scientists thought all fats were bad for you? Now we know better. Covers all the latest info about fueling our bodies for health, energy and happiness.
Insight into food/brain/weight linkages
Mini-classes on nutrition and the linkages between food and our thoughts, feelings, physical activity and weight.
Practical knowledge you'll use every day
Learning about calories and grams isn't enough to help anyone make smart food choices or lose weight. You'll get scientifically-sound information that you can put into action.
New life skills and healthy habits
A host of useful information & truly useful strategies, from dissecting fad diets to reading food labels, making their own food, navigating restaurant menus and other situations that can make smart food choices difficult.
Hands-On Culinary Adventures
Nothing tastes better than your own creations!
Hands-on culinary workshops
You'll learn to broil, grill and sauté like a pro, and nothing builds confidence in the kitchen like knowing how to amp up flavor with herbs, spices and sauces that add almost no calories.
Meal preparation & recipe makeovers
You'll actually get to cook! You'll make tasty, healthy breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks, and practice modifying your favorite recipes to make them healthier.
Your own customized cookbook
You'll head home with a customized cookbook containing your favorite recipes and kitchen hacks that you can share with the whole family
Practice applying new life skills and healthy habits
Structured opportunities to practice smart food decisions: choosing your own meals, creating a meal plan, building shopping lists, and applying your new life skills on grocery store and restaurant field trips