Wellness Series sparks change
Initiative to promote student health gains support as the semester begins
Two of the most popular New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight and eat healthy food according to USA.gov. One way students can maintain this resolution is by attending the Wellness Series being held throughout the semester.
Diet — The Wellness Series stresses the importance of healthy eating in addition to exercise. Photo credit: Christieanna Apon
The first session of the series, entitled “I’m Eating WHAT?!?”, was held Jan. 21 in the LaHaye Recreation and Fitness Center Dance Studio and was taught by Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Robin Quay. She discussed how to decipher food labels and what to look for and avoid.
According to Quay, in the past, the sessions have been well received and well attended. Several students who want to improve their health attend every semester.
The Wellness Series will continue throughout the semester with speakers focusing on topics such as spiritual wellness within the family and individually as well as long-lasting fitness tips and habits. Quay noted that there is normally a food component, a body component and a mind component. According to Quay, all three components are important to a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
“Exercise is great for fitness and being healthy, but if you want to lose weight, you have to really think about what you are eating,” Quay said. “You can’t outrun
your fork.”
According to Quay, students need to make better choices, eat more fruits and vegetables, eat more whole grains, drink more water and eat less sugar.
“(Eating healthier) initially might be a little bit challenging, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really not that difficult,” Quay said.
Quay noted that some foods that people think are healthy are actually not. For example, she stated that a wrap is like four pieces of bread and contains refined flour, hydrogenated fat and all kinds of unhealthy additives. Good whole wheat wraps are hard to find, and the ingredients must be checked.
For students who live on campus, Quay suggests eating at the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall, because it has the widest variety. Simple Servings and the Training Table are her go-to places for healthy options.
Resolution — Students listen to Robin Quay’s advice on healthy living. Photo credit: Christieanna Apon
According to Quay, when people start to eat healthier, their tastes start to change. Unhealthy food becomes less appealing and cravings are satisfied more quickly.
“Food is formulated, especially processed food, to make us want more and more and to be delicious, but never be satisfying,” Quay said. “So when you stop eating them, your body really does adjust and things do start to taste differently.”
With the absence of excessive sugar from desserts or soda, fruit will begin to taste sweeter and satisfy those cravings. There are many healthier options that can serve as substitutions for unhealthy favorites.
“One of my favorite desserts to make is to take natural peanut butter, mix it in with plain yogurt and add a few dark chocolate chips,” Quay said. “It’s almost like a Reese’s peanut butter cup.”
There are many healthy quick snacks that can replace a bag of potato chips. For example, an apple and some almonds or carrots dipped in peanut butter. According to Quay, eating healthier can be just as easy and convenient.
“When you eat healthy your body has everything it needs to work properly, so you have more energy, more stamina and you think more clearly,” Quay said. “It really improves every aspect of your life.”
Quay will lead another session about ingredients and processed foods on Jan. 28. This session will be held from 12-12:45 p.m. in the Jerry Falwell Library Active Learning Classroom Room 171.
Glossner is a feature reporter.