The freshman 15 is something that everyone dreads going into college.† You hear from every physician that the key to living a healthy life is diet and exercise. The exercise conditions are far from ideal on this campus ó including our hole-in-the-wall gym, which will be undergoing renovations in the near future. One thing that will not be getting renovated however is the menu at Momís.
Take a look at the menu at Momís and youíll notice fried and processed foods dominate. The salad options are minimal, and as far as fruit and vegetables are concerned, condiments are their only uses. With 67 percent of Americans over the age of 20 obese or overweight, the College should be doing more to promote healthy eating on campus.
I understand that times are tough financially. Foods that are processed and contain preservatives are cheaper than fresh produce or organic products for a multitude of reasons. Many fruits and vegetables donít qualify for government subsidies that others like corn ó used in high fructose corn syrup which is most likely one of the main ingredients in what youíre consuming from Momís ó† do. What this means is that this food is cheaper to produce as a supplier and in turn cheaper to purchase as a retail distributer.
As students, we are paying close to $44,000 a year in tuition and fees. I would like the school as well as the Dining Services to consider redistributing some of that money to incorporate a more well-balanced plethora of food at Momís as well as the upcoming convenience store. Produce and dairy, although they perish quickly, would most likely disappear off the shelves rapidly as well.
For those who say ìthis wonít work, the food will go bad and students wonít like it,”† I would like you to take a look at the University of Pittsburgh.† Although a much larger school, many of their dorms function in the same manner our campus does.† They have a convenience store, a place for fast food and a dining hall within them. When visiting there for the first time I was shocked to find things like organic blackberries and granola in their convenient store.† An array of fruits, vegetables and dairy products were offered and the space was not much larger than what we have here at the College.
With organics and eating healthily a rising trend, there is incentive for the College to join this trend. In addition to the health benefits it provides for students and staff it can be marketed as a desirable trait to prospective students. So next time you go to take a bite out of spicy chicken or some fries I challenge you to think about what you are eating and the healthy alternative you could be eating instead.