Great Food that Campers Love
Diet management is an essential component of the Wellspring Plan. However, the food our campers eat is not typical "diet food." We understand that changing your eating habits can be difficult, so we've developed a full menu of low-fat, low-density food that campers love and are happy to continue eating when they return home. Chicken fingers, spaghetti and meat sauce, scrambled egg and bacon sandwiches, brownies - these are a few of the entrees that campers enjoy.
The secret to the way we eat at Wellspring Pennsylvania is in the way we prepare food, using some slightly different ingredients, and low- or no-fat cooking methods that allow us to make the types of food campers are accustomed to eating, without any added fat. For example, instead of frying our chicken fingers and sweet potato fries, we bake them. The result is a range of delicious menu options that are satisfying and familiar to campers, easing the transition into a much healthier way of eating.
In addition to the "controlled" entrees that campers are served, campers also have access to the unlimited (or "self-controlled") salad and soup bar at every meal. Campers enjoy choosing from the variety of options, including soups, salads, veggies, cottage cheese, yogurt, and fresh fruit. With this system, campers never have to worry about being hungry and they get in the habit of filling up on healthy food options rather than junk food.
There are no calorie limits at Wellspring Pennsylvania. Rather, we train campers to self-monitor (write down) everything they eat so they practice being responsible for their own food choices. Campers have a calorie and fat guidebook with them at all times, providing access to nutrition information on everything they eat. Campers aim for no more than 20 grams of fat per day, which allows them to feel satisfied while giving them a simple way to continue monitoring food when they return home.
Culinary Training
We want campers to be able to continue enjoying their new healthy way of eating when they return home, so we provide culinary and nutrition training to make that possible. Campers learn their way around a kitchen, including the basics of chopping and reading recipes, to more advanced techniques of grilling, baking, dry sautéing, and food preparation. And we make sure that parents learn how to shop and cook in a Wellspring-friendly way through training at our Family Workshops.
For more information about Wellspring culinary and nutrition classes, click here.
