Nutritional dining facility opens in Southside

Cabrera (left) and Nabar (center) attend the grand opening of Peak Performance. (Photo courtesy of Mason Dining)

Adding a fresh and unique concept to college dining halls, Mason Dining has received excellent feedback about Peak Performance, their newest addition to Southside.

On Nov. 19, Mason Dining held a grand opening for Peak Performance in Southside, which brought together President Angel Cabrera, various Mason Athletics coaches, members of Mason Dining, and student-athletes.

According to Ram Nabar, Mason Dining’s resident district manager, Peak Performance was a collaborative effort between Mason Dining and Mason’s athletic department.

“We were approached by the sports program to create an option that would benefit the health needs of student-athletes,” Nabar said.

According to a Mason Athletics’ press release, Peak Performance was designed using research and performance methodology to enhance student-athletes’ athleticism and quality of life while competing at Mason. It is a station in Southside that offers balanced meals that cater to the needs of healthy athletes. After adding this unique concept to college dining halls, Mason Dining has received excellent feedback on Peak Performance, according to Nabar.

While Peak Performance adheres to the needs of student-athletes, it’s open to all students at dinner hours in Southside. Nabar said the hours could be extended to lunch in the future depending on demand and cost considerations.

The menus change daily and were formulated collectively by registered dietitians Theresa Logan from Mason Athletics, and Lois Durant from Mason Dining. They also provide students with detailed nutrition facts about the foods of the day: what vitamins are most prominent, and why they are valuable.

“The beauty is its simplicity. It’s a no brainer for students who just want to go and get a healthy meal,” said Nabar.

Peak Performance is open in Southside from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.