Hi everyone! Michelle Love here from Sodexo's Allentown campus. I am in the final stretch of my internship and completing my last rotation of Food Service Management at The College of New Jersey.
I was very excited to work with the college’s kitchen staff for my theme meal to help fuel the students up with proper nutrition the week before finals. Many students found this lunchtime event very helpful because the campus’s on-site RD and I were present to talk about the importance of choosing the right foods during this stressful time.
Myself and the RD are shown here fixing a student a healthy study snack made up of granola, dried cherries, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and even mini dark chocolate chips! All of the ingredients in this study snack are packed with healthy fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and antioxidants to help fuel the brain and keep blood sugar from dropping between meals. Not only did we provide a free study snack, but each food station at lunch featured several brain boosting foods to help the students nutritiously survive the daunting stretch that was finals week.
I understand that we have all been there – during times of stress we tend to crave foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt. This event was to educate the students to instead choose healthy fats, natural sugars, fiber-rich, and protein-packed foods.
Not only does nutrition play a big role in brain function, but things like sleep, physical activity, and stress management are important as well. Students stated they noticed a difference in their school performance when they would get a good night’s sleep and take simple walks outside. Small shifts into ensuring things like sleep, exercise, and stress management are incorporated into the lifestyle will be the keys to success for everyone who is mindful of their health. Not just college students!
I was very excited to work with the college’s kitchen staff for my theme meal to help fuel the students up with proper nutrition the week before finals. Many students found this lunchtime event very helpful because the campus’s on-site RD and I were present to talk about the importance of choosing the right foods during this stressful time.
Myself and the RD are shown here fixing a student a healthy study snack made up of granola, dried cherries, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and even mini dark chocolate chips! All of the ingredients in this study snack are packed with healthy fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and antioxidants to help fuel the brain and keep blood sugar from dropping between meals. Not only did we provide a free study snack, but each food station at lunch featured several brain boosting foods to help the students nutritiously survive the daunting stretch that was finals week.
I understand that we have all been there – during times of stress we tend to crave foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt. This event was to educate the students to instead choose healthy fats, natural sugars, fiber-rich, and protein-packed foods.
Not only does nutrition play a big role in brain function, but things like sleep, physical activity, and stress management are important as well. Students stated they noticed a difference in their school performance when they would get a good night’s sleep and take simple walks outside. Small shifts into ensuring things like sleep, exercise, and stress management are incorporated into the lifestyle will be the keys to success for everyone who is mindful of their health. Not just college students!
