Of the many desserts at the dining halls on campus, dining hall employees say cookies are the most popular. However, students are also looking for healthier alternatives to the comfort food.

Whitney Randolph, a freshman from Fayetteville whose favorite cookie is

chocolate chip, said she feels guilty about eating the desserts because she knows it’s not good for her, but she said she should not complain because she chooses to eat it.

University Food Services offers healthier dessert options such as low fat frozen yogurt and fresh fruit, which are good choices for students looking for a sugar fix without feeling guilty about eating it, said Michael Floyd, director of Food Services.

Students also create their own alternatives to fattening desserts, he said.

“Because we serve cereal all day long, some students will eat cereal as a dessert,” Floyd said.

One request Dining Services has not been able to fulfill is adding sugar-free gelatin to the menu.

“We looked around to find sugar-free Jell-O, but it’s just not made in quantities big enough to serve,” Floyd said.

Though various alternatives to the typically sugar-rich desserts are available, many students still opt for their favorite cookie.

Daniel Leas, a sophomore from Columbia, S.C., said his favorite cookie is oatmeal raisin.

“My friend sends me a text message telling me when they have them,” he said. “I’m trying to gain weight, though, so I eat high-calorie meals.”

Dining Services offers a Cookie of the Day Monday through Friday, Floyd said. This week’s cookie varieties are sugar, fudge brownie chunk, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin and macadamia nut.

The Dining Commons assign the same cookie to each day for three weeks at a time, Floyd said. So, for three Mondays in a row, the sugar cookie will be featured and served as the cookie of the day. This week is the second in the current cycle.

“They’re so good I told my parents about them,” Randolph said.

Though the cookie of the day is the most popular dessert at the dining halls, it is not the best choice for students looking to limit their sugar intake, Floyd said.

Opting to eat fruit at the end of the meal is generally the best option, he said.