USU dietetics discuss the ‘magic bullet’
The USU dietetics program hosted its eighth annual Health and Nutrition Expo Friday in the Taggart Student Center. The theme of the event was “What is the Magic Bullet?”
Senior and junior dietetics students organized the event, preparing booths with topics like “Eat more, Weigh less,” ” Do your Snacks size up?” and “Vegetables. That’s what’s for dinner.” Campus organizations such as the USU Student Wellness Center, department of health, physical education and recreation and Outdoor Recreations Center presented booths centered on health and nutrition as well. Great Harvest donated a variety of healthy breads, and Lee’s Marketplace had fresh produce there for sampling.
Dietetics professor Tammie Vitalie said, “I think the perception among college students is that eating well is hard and spendy.”
She said students need to recognize it’s not simple things like exchanging white bread for wheat and using low-fat dressings make a difference. Vitalie said she is really proud of her students. They starting the planning for this event the first day of class, she said, and were in charge of the marketing, advertising, management and preparation.
“It’s been a great idea. The students have really dug deeper,” Vitalie said. “Watching them through this whole process has been great. I have really seen them all grow.”
There were 30 booths presenting information about health, nutrition, cooking, recreation and overall well-being.
Dietetics senior Patrick Shepard, dressed in vegetables, presented information on cancer-causing vegetables. He said one in three women and one in two men will get cancer. Shepard said knowing about the different types of nutrients and anti-cancer compounds in vegetables and eating the necessary amount, 2.5 cups a day, reduces chances of getting cancer.
“Vegetables are the magic bullet. It’s a healthy food that will provide you better health and a longer life,” Shepherd said.
Blaire Snell, senior in dietetics, talked about how to make better choices when eating at fast food restaurants.
“Be careful with how much of the little extras you are taking in, like mayo, regular soda and cheese. Replace fries for something else – try to shake things up,” Snell said.
Fast food is cheap, Snell said, but it’s not the best for someone’s body.
Marie Call, junior in dietetics, showed the amount of vegetables a person should eat in a day. People should eat a serving the size a baseball twice a day, Call said. Students don’t know vegetables are inexpensive, she said. They think they are saving money by buying other snack foods, but they aren’t, she said.
“The trick is to know how to make them taste good, which is why we are here,” Call said.
Junior dietetics students did food demonstrations on how to choose and prepare healthier food options with samples for everyone to try. The students prepared different types of salads and wraps and showed the differences between them and the less healthy alternatives.
Erin Reeder, junior majoring in dietetics, said, “Being here, learning how to take care of your body, just makes you feel better.”
Nicole Buhler, senior dietetics student, presented a booth on supplements vs. sustenance.
“We aren’t just giving information,” Buhler said. “We are doing demonstrations and showing how to eat better and cook better so things taste better.”
Freshman Melissa Daines said joining the Dietetics Club is a fun way to get healthy recipes and learn about various nutrition concerns. The Dietetics Club meets once a month and covers topics about health and nutrition, Daines said. It’s a great way to prepare students applying for USU dietetics program and other related programs. For information on how to get involved, e-mail club President Krista Viau at k.viau@aggiemail.usu.edu.
-n.drue.t@aggiemail.usu.edu
