Healthy Eating at SAS HQ

The start of a new year is synonymous with improved lifestyle patterns. If healthier eating habits have become your goal, you are in good company. And if you are finding yourself getting off-track by now, you are also in good company. Choosing consistency over perfection - and with SAS Food Services as an ally - will reduce the challenges of meal prep and over-abundant convenient snacks, back-to-back meetings, or when previous habits start to creep back in.

At SAS HQ, employees have access to on‑site cafés and convenient Food to Go locations. Learning to navigate these amenities - with expert guidance from our on-site nutrition team - will set you up for lasting success.

At SAS HQ, employees have access to on‑site cafés and convenient Food to Go locations. Learn how to navigate these amenities with healthy eating in mind. #saslife
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Café Quick Start Guide

SAS HQ has three on-site cafes, conveniently located in select office buildings on campus, offering a variety of healthy options made with quality ingredients. Menus always identify common allergens as well as locally sourced ingredients and seafood origin, when available. Chefs on the serving lines are knowledgeable about their menus, encouraging questions, concerns and feedback that will influence future options.

With new daily and weekly menu options, everyone can find something they love at the SAS cafes. And you'll always have a well-stocked salad bar with freshly chopped vegetables and seasonal fruit. If you're new to tracking macros or calories and the self-serve salad bar feels overwhelming, ask a cashier for the weight of your salad until eye-balling portion sizes becomes more routine.

Building A's Terrace Café (operated by SAS Food Services)

Designed to make healthy choices easy and enjoyable.

Much of the seasonal produce on the salad bar is sourced from local vendors. You can also find baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, customizable with salad bar topping for a whole food focused meal option.

Entrees include baked, grilled, or fried proteins paired with steamed or roasted vegetables and a satisfying starch.

Building R's Atrium Café (operated by SAS Food Services)

Offers a relaxed, inviting atmosphere with a fresh, modern feel where cuisine centers on balanced, thoughtfully prepared options.

Rotating pop-up bars, weekly wholesome bowls, and daily changing entrees ensure a wide variety of nutritious choices, flavors and dietary needs.

Entrees include various proteins and starches and vegetables are primarily steamed, sauteed or roasted and seasoned just to taste.

Building C's Marketplace Café (operated by Bon Appetit Management Company)

Made from scratch cooking using environmentally sourced, local products.

Chefs are given liberty to plan menus based on seasonality, plant-based proteins and lean animal meats with techniques that prefer herbs and spices over excess sugar.

Portions are made in small batches to reduce food waste.

Foods to Go

Afternoon snack cravings hit when energy dips. While the cafés operate during lunch hours, the Foods to Go locations are open throughout the workday and are stocked with smart-snacking options such as:

Greek yogurt

Whole fruit

Deli sandwiches with condiments on the side

Prepared salads featuring healthy proteins in reasonable portion sizes (salad dressing are on the side and many toppings are packaged separately so you can determine what to add or leave off)

Granola and protein bars (check nutrition labels for added sugars and filler ingredients which vary by brand)

Bottled drinks (many chosen with lower sugar in mind)

Make It a Team Effort

Healthy habits stick better when shared. Dining with teammates and setting your intentions helps ensure accountability. Your goals to have better balance and design a healthy meal pattern will encourage others, plus there is someone to split that dessert with! Small steps will build habits for lasting results. So, grab your reusable water bottle and get your steps in on the way to healthy dining here at SAS HQ.

For more tips on choosing healthy options at work, check out Healthy Eating Strategies for the Office.

About the Author

Melissa Cormier, Sr Office Administrator

Melissa Cormier is on the SAS Food Service Operations administrative team in the cafe in Building A. If you see her cashiering during lunch, feel free to share an update on your diet or fitness journey - or a story about your cat!

Curried Chickpea Salad

Makes 4 servings
PRINT RECIPE

Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3 Tbsp minced fresh garlic
1 habanero pepper, diced (or jalapeno for lower spice level)
3 Tbsp curry powder
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp nutmeg
sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 cups of vegetable stock or water
1 Tbsp lime juice
Habanero pepper sauce or other hot sauce, to taste

Directions

Heat oil in pan and add onion, garlic, diced pepper and spices. Cook until fragrant and onions become translucent.

Add chickpeas and stir to coat. Add the stock or water and simmer for 30 minutes. There should be some “sauce” at this point, and the beans should be very tender.

Add lime juice and habanero/hot sauce. Season to taste with additional salt and/or pepper if needed.

Set aside to cool.