Many college students at Sichuan University in Chengdu are choosing to forgo dishes featuring the province's signature spicy chili oil or mouth-numbing peppercorns in favor of lighter options.

As part of a national push for healthier eating and weight management, the campus cafeteria has introduced a line of light meals, which have quickly gained popularity among the student body.

Among the offerings is a meal set with quinoa and red bean rice, meatball soup with bok choy, stir-fried bok choy and an apple. It contains 479 calories and is available at only 9.5 yuan ($1.3).

A more protein-packed set includes stir-fried beef tenderloin with celery and steamed carp topped with pickles, catering to those with a relatively larger appetite.

"I was most surprised by a selection of healthy, rice-based carbohydrate options such as brown rice, multigrain rice and rice mixed with red beans," said Kaka (a pseudonym), a student from the university's College of Software Engineering.

"Such low glycemic carbs (meaning they don't cause a rapid surge in blood sugar levels), paired with plenty of vegetables and high-quality protein can meet my nutritional needs," he said.

"Compared to ordering takeouts from eateries selling light dishes, the price at the campus cafeteria is much more budget-friendly and I will definitely order again," he said.

Hu Wen, head of the nutrition department at the university's West China Hospital, said that the new menu in the campus cafeteria follows key requirements listed in an official dietary guideline, with a focus on providing dishes that are low in glycemic index, rich in fiber and contain high-quality protein.

"This move not only helps young adults develop a scientific understanding of weight management but also combats obesity-related metabolic disorders by targeting a key root cause — unhealthy eating habits," she said.

Dalian University of Technology has taken a step further by launching a weight management course targeting students with a body mass index of over 30 — a sign of being obese.

Students can either enroll in a 21-day intensive program or a semester-long curriculum covering guidance on exercise, healthy diets and psychological consultations.

Students participating in the short program will complete a number of workouts involving resistance bands, yoga balls, step boards as well as aquatic training such as water aerobics and swimming.

The school said the first group of 33 students that signed up for the short course and finished in early May lost more than 130 kilograms in total, and the maximum amount of weight lost for an individual was 7.3 kg.

For some, their symptoms of high blood pressure have subsided, it added.