My name is Christine Charbonneau and I am from the New Bedford campus. I recently spent some time with a campus RD as part of my wellness concentration. This experience gave me insight into all the outlets a campus dietitian has in promoting wellness in a college environment. Some of the resources available to the students include nutrition education bulletin boards updated every semester, nutrition education classes, monthly “lunch and learns”, and weekly “Dear Dietitian” emails.
The “Dear Dietitian” provides students with weekly informative messages regarding various topics in nutrition and health. It serves as a reminder to students that the college has a dietitian and provides a platform to advertise the dietitian’s services. Students are encouraged to stop by or make an appointment if they have any questions or concerns. This activity is only one of the many ways to promote and market wellness to students and staff. I had the opportunity to write a weekly “Dear Dietitian”, and chose to focus on the topic of healthy salads, which tied in with the color coded tongs coming to the salad bar soon. The dietitian will create the question and response unless a student asks a question. I made my Q&A concise, informative, and exciting so it would appeal to my audience. My response is written below:
Dear Dietitian,
The weather has been getting warmer and I have been eating at the salad bar more often. I’ve always thought salads were healthy but have realized many restaurants serve salads that are loaded in calories and fat. How can I navigate the salad bar at Stonehill and make better options in general?
Sincerely,
Health Conscious Student
Dear Health Conscious Student,
Salads are a great go-to meal during the warmer months! You are definitely right, and in thinking that salads are sometimes not the healthiest option. Not all salads are created equal! Think of a salad as your healthy plate. What you choose to put in it can impact how nutritious it will be. There are a few easy steps you can follow to make the most out of your salad!
We will have colored prongs (green, yellow, and red) coming to the salad bar soon to help guide you in making nutritious choices. Think of the colors as a stoplight. The green "go" indicates foods that you can have anytime, that are packed with nutrition. The yellow "slow" represents foods that provide essential nutrients but contain more calories and fat. These foods are important to have every day and should be eaten in moderation. The red "whoa" indicates foods that are higher in calories, fats, and sugars that do not provide a lot of health benefits for our bodies. Although these foods are low in nutrition, all foods can be incorporated in to a healthy eating plan and do not have to be cut out or severely restricted. Enjoying these foods occasionally is healthy and allows you to have a healthy relationship with food.
As a college dietitian, the opportunities to have a positive impact on students, staff, and the community are endless. I plan to spend more time for the fall semester and look forward to working with this community again!
The “Dear Dietitian” provides students with weekly informative messages regarding various topics in nutrition and health. It serves as a reminder to students that the college has a dietitian and provides a platform to advertise the dietitian’s services. Students are encouraged to stop by or make an appointment if they have any questions or concerns. This activity is only one of the many ways to promote and market wellness to students and staff. I had the opportunity to write a weekly “Dear Dietitian”, and chose to focus on the topic of healthy salads, which tied in with the color coded tongs coming to the salad bar soon. The dietitian will create the question and response unless a student asks a question. I made my Q&A concise, informative, and exciting so it would appeal to my audience. My response is written below:
Dear Dietitian,
The weather has been getting warmer and I have been eating at the salad bar more often. I’ve always thought salads were healthy but have realized many restaurants serve salads that are loaded in calories and fat. How can I navigate the salad bar at Stonehill and make better options in general?
Sincerely,
Health Conscious Student
Dear Health Conscious Student,
Salads are a great go-to meal during the warmer months! You are definitely right, and in thinking that salads are sometimes not the healthiest option. Not all salads are created equal! Think of a salad as your healthy plate. What you choose to put in it can impact how nutritious it will be. There are a few easy steps you can follow to make the most out of your salad!
- Color your plate- Adding in colorful veggies will ensure you get the best nutrition. For fun, you could try adding in as many veggies colors as the rainbow. Having a colorful bowl is aesthetically appealing and may entice your appetite!
- Theme your salad- Pick a theme such as Mexican or Summer Fun where you can add specific items that go together and give your salad a kick.
- Dressing it up- "dress up" your salad without dressing. Opt for trying a different base such as hummus, beans, olive oil/vinegar, avocado/guacamole spread, spices, edamame, etc. Or you could put the dressing on the side!
- Practice mindfulness- when making your salad. Be consciously aware when choosing ingredients and pick those that will nourish your body as well as your soul.
We will have colored prongs (green, yellow, and red) coming to the salad bar soon to help guide you in making nutritious choices. Think of the colors as a stoplight. The green "go" indicates foods that you can have anytime, that are packed with nutrition. The yellow "slow" represents foods that provide essential nutrients but contain more calories and fat. These foods are important to have every day and should be eaten in moderation. The red "whoa" indicates foods that are higher in calories, fats, and sugars that do not provide a lot of health benefits for our bodies. Although these foods are low in nutrition, all foods can be incorporated in to a healthy eating plan and do not have to be cut out or severely restricted. Enjoying these foods occasionally is healthy and allows you to have a healthy relationship with food.
As a college dietitian, the opportunities to have a positive impact on students, staff, and the community are endless. I plan to spend more time for the fall semester and look forward to working with this community again!
