Soft green stools

Hello,

I am a 20 year old female.  I've noticed that when I am away at university-- and thus eating solely food from the school dining hall-- my stools are almost always softer than normal and are frequently pea green in color.  I've read that green stools can be indicative of material going through the digestive system faster than normal, which also seems to line up with the softness. I am not experiencing any sort of stomach or bowel discomfort, and this continues during the school year and then ceases when I go back home to Mom's cooking, so I don't think it's due to something viral.  

Are there common allergies or diet changes that could account for this?  I eat less fruit, more sugar, less caffeine, more dairy, and less poultry here than when I'm at home.  I've heard that green vegetables can contribute to green stools, but I eat about the same amount of vegetables here than at home, though here it's mostly lettuce, spinach, and cucumber, while at home I eat mostly green beans with some zucchini thrown in here and there.

Thanks for your time and advice!

[Renee Radenberg]

You have basically answered your own question. Your increase of green vegetables, dairy, sugar consummation, and decrease of fruit would have an influence on your stool make-up.