WSU's Dining Services Offers Nutrition Education and Healthier Meal Options

In an effort to demonstrate their committment to health and well-being, WSU Dining Services offered opportunities throughought the semester for students to meet with registered dietician Annie Roe. Diet-related discussion topics at the dinner ranged from the importance of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, to eating to prevent disease, and the prevalence of malnutrition in an obese society.

While no dinners are scheduled yet for Spring 2010, there is still one you can make before fall semester is over, called "Healthy Snacking: Gearing Up For Finals", which takes place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8. It is open to all students, faculty and staff and no meal purchase is required. This just might give you the extra snacking-knowledge you need to optimally energize your brain for finals.

WSU's Dining Services has also introduced 500 calorie meals around campus, beginning with Carlita's Mexican Grille and Espresso in the CUB and at Northside Café in 2008, followed by the Southside Café and Hillside Café soon after. Their focus is not just on calorie counting, however, since it is not an accurate evaluation of the nutritional value of a food item or meal.

According to the Dining Services web site, the 500 calorie meals must all meet must meet the following nutritional qualifications and contain:

■less than 500 calories
■less than 30 percent calories from fat,
■less than10 percent calories from saturated fat,
■and less than 1000mg of sodium.

Additionally,

Every 500 Calorie meal at the Dining Centers and Carlita's features:

■a protein-rich entrée,
■a low-fat grain or starch,
■and a nutrient-dense vegetable.

WSU's Dining Services has come a long way since my freshman year, when I chose to forgoe vegetarianism because I got sick of white rice and salad every day. Let's hope they continue their committment to well-being and remember that, while students may be on a tight budget, they want healthy, great-tasting food and a variety of options. It almost makes me wish I still had an RDA (Resident Dining Account).

For more information on Dining Services locations, hours, menus and more visit the Dining Services web site.