Healthy living taught in dorms

Fort Worth, TX

9/6/2007

By: Victoria Puente, TCU Daily Skiff

A group of juniors have begun visiting residence halls in hopes of teaching students about healthy eating.

Juniors in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics worked with Sodexho, TCU's food service provider, to modify the company's Balance, Mind, Body and Soul program. The students are presenting the revised version of Sodexho's program at several residence halls this semester.

Erin Strong, a senior nutrition major, said she revised the presentation and taught it to about 15 juniors in the dietetics program. Then, the students made additional modifications to it, Strong said.

Legia Abato, marketing manager for Dining Services, said incorporating students in the program has been helpful.

"They can give us feedback and input that's invaluable and can help get the information out about this program and help to get people to live it and work within it," Abato said.

The Balance, Mind, Body and Soul program was designed by Sodexho to provide the "latest in nutrition and health information" and "provide (students) with information that promotes balance through healthy living," according to balancemindbodysoul.com.

"It's not like at home," Strong said. "You just have a mini fridge and a microwave, so we are trying to give tips and ideas on how to make it a little bit more livable and how to eat well without sacrificing all that good stuff."

The students have already visited Kellye Wright Samuelson and Sherley halls. They will be visiting Amon G. Carter Hall Sept. 12 and Samuelson again Sept. 19, said Lyn Dart, assistant professor of nutrition and adviser for the coordinated program.

Nutrition counselor Stephanie Dickerson, who has been the Sodexho speaker on campus for the past two years, said students will have the opportunity to discuss nutritional issues ranging from the "freshman 15" to "bulking up" during the presentation and that she and Abato will be at the presentations to answer any questions.

All students and faculty can attend the presentations, Dickerson said.

Copyright © 2007 Daily Skiff