I love March. Not just because winter is coming to a close and baseball season is only a few weeks away, but because it’s National Nutrition Month, a whole month dedicated to promoting good health via nutrition. It’s important to overall wellness to choose a diet that is rich in quality nutrients. A personal interest of mine is to promote a diet that’s not only good for your body but good for the planet. Another great thing about this month is all the great programming going on around campus.
Not just this month but every month, free nutrition counseling is available to all students. All you need to do is email our campus’ registered dietician, Kerry Ballek, for an appointment at kballek@towson.edu.
She can even take you on a tour of the dining hall to show you what to choose and what not to choose.
So what kinds of programs can you look forward to this month? How about taking the Tiger Challenge?
The Tiger Challenge is a month-long program where you can learn different things about choosing a healthier diet and squeeze some extra fitness in as well. Everyone who participates in the challenge will be eligible to win some great prizes which include a gift certificate to Shop Rite, and yoga prize basket, a ton of TU gear and more. All you need to do is follow the steps on the Towson Dining website: dineoncampus.com/towson. Get your friends involved and challenge each other.
Next up is Meatless Monday. Meatless Monday is another awesome passive program. Each Monday, make the decision to eat a meatless diet. It’s a lot easier than you think. Choosing to go meatless just one day a week can help to keep you stay healthy. A diet high in meat consumption is harsh on your digestive system and can even lead to cardiovascular disease. Having a day with more veggies can help increase your vitamin and fiber intake. The meat industry has a major effect on our environment as well—contributing one fifth of man-made greenhouse gas emissions to our air. It’s also estimated that close to 2,000 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef while tofu requires 220 gallons per pound. If you won’t consider Meatless Monday for your body, at least consider it for the planet!
Unsure about how to prepare delicious meatless meals? Join TU’s Executive Chef for a cooking demonstration where he will show you easy meals you can make on your own. You can even get some free samples! Make sure to stop by the Susquehanna entrance March 25 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to see the demo.
Last up on the programming list is a screening of the HBO documentary “Weight of the Nation.” This documentary explores the growing obesity epidemic in America. The film does a great job of showcasing the social and lifestyle factors that contribute to the epidemic. On March 12 at 6pm in PSYC 304, you can view part of the documentary and hear from a panel of experts (a member of the American Diabetes Association, and a Nutrition professor in the Health Science Department) who will answer some great questions.
Get excited for March! This month’s columns will all focus on the wonderful world of food. Who doesn’t love to eat?