Nutrition Versus You

When you begin college, you become responsible for your own health and nutrition. The MSU campus makes this thrice-daily task seem easy. We have dining halls serving meals all day with a variety of meal plan options. We also have many opportunities for fast food (including the Union Market in the SUB) and restaurant meals throughout Bozeman. Despite a bounty of choices, there comes a time when we want to take control of our dietary requirements and cook for ourselves. At MSU, there are students with magnificent minds and people who make innovative discoveries that change the world. Yet many college students often intentionally ignore their nutritional health. Students' busy lives and tasks can divert them from taking care of themselves. It’s hard enough to balance work and school, let alone maintain a nutritious diet.

Healthy eating is influenced by a variety of factors. For students in particular, factors influencing dietary habits include time constraints, availability of healthy options, eating habits of their peers, and knowledge about nutrition facts. Beyond residence hall plans, MSU has a commuter meal package that allows students to choose how to spend their CatCash. For students skilled at budgeting, shopping and cooking, this can feel like a wonderful personal choice. However, what about students without those skills? Or students with other financial pressures? There are a handful of students who hit this campus with no plan or budget for how they will eat.

Many MSU students lack the basic nutritional balance needed to perform at their highest physical and mental potential. MSU students engage in poor dietary habits, such as intake of fast foods which are high in fat and foods which are rich in trans-fat, skipping meals and engaging in  inconsistent eating behavior, and low consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy and even water. A nutritious meal can help students increase energy levels, promote an operational immune system, improve their ability to cope with stress, and increase concentration in school.

MSU offers healthy dietary options, and it’s always good to consult with the college nutritionist about your dietary requirements. Nutrition counseling is available to MSU students through the Student Health Service. Appointments with a registered dietitian are tailored to meet personal health needs through an individualized, collaborative approach. The best way to make a nutrition appointment is to call the Office of Health Advancement office at (406) 994-4380.

Maintaining a healthy diet can also be expensive. Even for students with less financial pressures, eating healthy on campus can be difficult when there's an unlimited selection of food and when you are stuck between the choices. Especially in my college life, I often remember  late-night pizza deliveries and mini-fridges filled with greasy takeout food containers and sodas. I also can’t forget 2:00 a.m. runs at the vending machines. However, there are still ways I can enjoy the college experience and stay well nourished.

We as college students should consider eating three meals a day, consuming at least three servings of fruits and vegetables per day, drinking at least eight glasses of water and reducing consumption of high calorie beverages, selecting lean/low-fat meat and dairy products, reading food labels and selecting whole grains whenever possible.

We live in a time when food, eating, and how we feel about our bodies has become incredibly convoluted and interconnected. Myths and misinformation abound. What is important to remember is that how we eat over time is far more important than what we eat at a single meal. If we build a positive relationship with food and our bodies, eating will become more intuitive, healthful and even more fun.