College menu found wanting
College students tend to sacrifice eating properly for other things like school, work and other activities.
Deloy Hendricks, a professor of nutrition at Utah State University, is concerned that students are not establishing healthy, good eating habits as young adults. He said he thinks students have more access to food establishments that provide quantity rather than quality products.
“We are trading economics for health and it is going to cost us in health,” Hendricks said.
Andrea Talbot, a junior majoring in dietetics, said she always makes time for breakfast and usually cooks her own food, very rarely does she eat out. She said most college students eat a lot of carbohydrates, like Ramen noodles and other pastas because it’s inexpensive and quick.
“[Students need to start] adding more fruit and vegetables to their diets. Variety and balance are the keys to living a healthy life,” Talbot said.
Students can eat healthy, but if they don’t exercise then it doesn’t really help. One hour of exercise a day is optimal to maintain health, she said.
Dr. Jim Davis, director of the Student Health Center, said one of the biggest areas students have to think about is when they leave their home structure, they are faced with the responsibility of living and shopping on their own.
It is very easy to slip into eating food that tastes good instead of what is balanced and nutritious, he said. Students usually eat what is easy to prepare and cheap to get and they eat the same thing every day. The food looses it’s nutritional value and diversity.
“There is not a diverse representation of the food groups in the college diet and also lack of useful information,” Davis said.
Nichole Collins, an undeclared freshman, said she doesn’t really eat on campus because she is rarely there long enough. She eats out very frequently.
“I have access for healthy food at home, but I don’t use it … it’s not really convenient,” Collins said.
She said she considers herself pretty healthy and exercises at least three times a week.
Davis said, the nutrition labels are located on each product, but few people know how to use the information given correctly.
“People talk about fat grams and protein, but not many people know how to use them to properly balance their diet,” he said. “They don’t know how to apply the knowledge available.”
He also said, due to the lack of time, funding and resources available, college students end up with a mundane and poor diet.
The results are fatigue, excess weight gain and inability to concentrate, he said. The most important step students should take is to become self-educated on properly balancing their diets.
Lisa Clawson, a sophomore majoring in culinary arts and assistant manager at The Hub, said The Hub offers plenty of healthy food, but it depends on what you are willing to buy.
“Common sense tells you something that is baked will be better for you than something that is fried,” Clawson said.
Danny Price, an undeclared freshman, said he really hasn’t seen any problems with the food the school offers but the price is more expensive than what he was used to in high school and it is a little difficult to adjust to since he is now on a budget.
“Food is an after thought, an impulse that only the organized and clear-scheduled can afford to think about. Basically, I don’t have time to eat at school and I just eat leftovers at home,” Price said.
Jaime Bradford, a senior in marketing and human resources, said once someone arrives at college, concern with health changes.
“Students will get food that is cheap and will fill them up at the best value for their money,” she said.
-kassrobison@cc.usu.edu