Away from home and the comfort of mom's cooking, many collegians are tempted by the urge to splurge on the deserts and the high-carbohydrate meal options that Campus Dining and Shops (CDS) offers, thus leaving little room in their diets for healthier alternatives.
When pants get tighter, sweaters get smaller, and students notice a bit of a bulge that wasn't there before, many blame the dining halls for their sudden weight gain.
Finding healthy meal options in the dining halls is easier than one may think, however.
According to Anita Hathoway, a registered Dietician with CDS, a little discipline and reviving old eating habits once practiced in mom's kitchen can go a long way towards helping students lose weight.
"I try not to eat white bread so I make my own sandwiches," said Ann Marie Olivo, a senior linguistics major. "I like to eat Hummus, egg salad and bean burritos but I try and stay away from campus fruit juice and soda. I also like Aquafina Alive."
Hathoway helps choose what foods are served in the dining halls each day. By posting menus within facilities, students know ahead of time what meal options are available to them.
Many students, especially freshman, come to UB used to the healthy food they ate at home. With the newfound freedom that comes with college, students often lose sight of good eating habits, which leads to weight gain.
Hathoway believes many students don't know what choices are available for healthy eating on campus. One meal option whose availability most students aren't aware of is the choice to have food cooked to order.
"We have vegan burgers made to order," Hathoway said. "There are so many options."
Hathoway believes students will eat better once they get ahold of the food pyramid and a dining hall menu.
"Each person should make their food choices based on their own needs," Hathoway said. "Students should feel free to ask any and every question to the dining hall staff if they would like their food cooked a certain way, or cooked with certain spices and flavor enhancers, as it can go a long way towards a student reaching their dieting goals."
Many students find that the bad foods are too tempting to pass.
"It's hard not to eat fried," said Owen MacDonald, a sophomore mechanics and aerospace major. "I eat at Bert's for breakfast and then for lunch and dinner I'll normally just grab a sandwich somewhere on campus. I'll eat half a sub for dinner and then save the rest for during my study break later that night."
Students can e-mail CDS with questions and comments regarding the food service, suggestions for future menus, or anything else that comes to mind. Emails can be sent through the CDS website which is easily accessible through MyUB.
Friday, April 13 is "Customer Appreciation Day," where all 43 vendors that cater to CDS will put their newest and best products out for sampling in the Student Union. The event runs from 10:30 am until 1:30 pm.
"I try to avoid eating on campus since they don't have kosher food options," said Sophia Azeb, a junior history major. "I get a chicken salad so I meet my kosher diet requirements."
Hathoway says the event is yet another opportunity for students to express their ideas and opinions so that CDS can further cater to the students needs.
"It's for the students, not for us," Hathoway said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
