College takes part in Nutrition Awareness Month efforts

March is Nutrition Awareness Month and a chance for nutrition majors, nutritionists and students to speak out about other college student’s eating habits and how their passion for eating right made them more informed and healthier.

According to Rebecca Briggs, a nutritionist for the Zorn Dining Commons, the school made changes in the food now served, with the help of students.

One example Briggs said was the DC now serves whole grain pasta and pizza on a regular basis along with brown rice at the sauté station.

Students who have voiced their opinions via the comment board at the DC helped make these changes possible, according to Briggs.

“We’ve made a huge effort this semester with being able to respond to students’ comments,” Briggs said.

“And that’s where some of the changes that we have implemented most recently have come from.”

Briggs said it is possible to eat healthy in the DC.

“Include a lot of variety, shop the stations and shop the perimeter,” Briggs said. “They [students] always think it’s something out of the box and that’s definitely not true here at Keene State. There’s a lot of scratch cooking that we do here.”

There is also a service advisory committee open to all students that meets every other week to discuss food related topics.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to be heard,” Briggs said.
According to the President of the Student Dietetic Association, Lauren Flagg, the SDA promotes healthy eating with flyers, announcements and food events throughout the school year.

Flagg said a hard thing for students is portion control and knowing how to balance the different types of food they eat.

SDA’s goal, according to Flagg, is to promote healthy eating, exercise and good food.
“You can eat pretty much anything just watch what else you eat, exercise; it all goes together,” Flagg said.

According to freshman and nutrition major Brittany Cammisa, college students face a big issue with nutrition when they come to college.

“Some notice it more than others, but it is all around us, from the wide selection in the Dining Commons, a quick meal in the Student Center or a late night snack in our dorm rooms,” Cammisa said. “Some students are faced with the problem of coming to college and having so many choices and find themselves not always choosing the healthiest. Other students are faced with the problem of not having enough time in the day to eat good.”

Cammisa said she encourages students to make small changes to reach a healthy goal.
“To stay healthy food-wise on campus, we should start by making those little changes in our diets,” Cammisa said. “Maybe by not having the dessert every day but cutting it down to a few times a week, till you have it once a week. Everyone's food consumption is different but that is why making your own little goals is a great start.”
According to Cammisa, majoring in nutrition can help students realize how important it is to know what they consume.

“I am continually learning so many different things. But, personally, I just feel that when I eat better, I feel better,” Cammisa said.

Freshman and nutrition major Katie Marsh said college students don’t know what is healthy and what isn’t.

“When they buy foods off campus, they buy food that is not nutritionally healthy for them because they don't realize what is good,” Marsh said.

Marsh admitted that, despite her past food habits, KSC has helped her eat correctly.
“Even though healthy snacks may be more expensive but it is well worth it in the long run. Before I came to Keene, I didn't eat as healthy as I should have but now that I have become more informed I have learned the healthy aspects of eating the proper nutritional foods and this helps me maintain a healthy diet.”

Lindsey Arceci can be contacted at larceci@keeneequinox.com.