Healthy Eating, Healthy Community

At USD, one of our greatest privileges is being able to consider the holistic development of students...  Stay with me here - I am talking about the fact that we care about the growth and wellness of your mind, your body and your soul.  It always brings me a smile when I see the group of Phi Kappa Theta men gathered in the SLP Dining Room with their advisor, Father Mullen.  Spending time together - having a meal together - builds stronger connections. When we consider the wellness of your body, we think about what you are consuming.  Nutrition is a big part of healthy eating - and one that we know isn't always on the forefront of college student's minds.  Often, you are busy moving to a meeting, work, class, the library.  Some of you eat junk food, some of you skip meals, some of you only eat alone - in general, there are some unhealthy eating patterns.


For this week, I have invited Meghan McCarthy, the Assistant Director of USD's Center for Health and Wellness Promotion (CHWP) to share a few thoughts on healthy eating.  CHWP is an excellent resource for our members as we work to develop all parts of our members - healthy mind, body and soul. Enjoy!

The U.S. as visualized by the nearest McDonald's

Do you know the farthest distance you can be from a McDonald’s in the contiguous United States? 107 miles (South Dakota).

This is a part of why for the first time in modern history, children's life spans are expected to be shorter than their parents.  Most people eat communally, with family and friends, so understanding nutrition basics is not only important for you but for those who you share a table with.

Here some other healthy eating strategies to keep in mind…

• Think about what you had for lunch when deciding on dinner. No veggies yet today? A salad will help you get in the daily-recommended amount of 2 and half cups. 
• What you eat every day is more important than what you do once in a while. Follow a good weekday breakfast routine and then enjoy Sunday Brunch.  
• No matter how much you eat in one sitting, you will be hungry again 4 hours later. That is how the human body is wired.  
• Learn how to read a nutrition label. It is the only way to know what fuel you are giving your body.

The Center for Health and Wellness Promotion offers a drop in Nutrition 101 class every Thursday in UC 161 at 1 PM.  It is a semester of college nutrition packed into one session.  Everyone has to eat, you might as well do it in a way that gives you energy and makes you feel great!

Meghan McCarthy is the Assistant Director for the Center for Health and Wellness Promotion.  She can be reached by email at meghanmccarthy@sandiego.edu.