SEPTEMBER 30. 2009 | THE MEREDITH HERALD | PAOEt
CAMPUS NUTRITION
Aleigha Page
Staff Writer
During the 2008-2009 school
year, the Meredith Counseling
Center saw 225 women. Twenty-
eight of these women rated body
image issues as their top 3 con
cerns. While these are the official
statistics, Beth Meirof the counsel
ing center guesses that the rates
of body dissatisfaction are much
higher in the Meredith community.
As women, every time we open
a magazine or turn on the televi
sion, we are constantly bombarded
with body images. When we look
in the mirror and compare our
selves to those images, we do not
match. Luckily for the Meredith
community, there are many faculty
members who are trained to make
us feel and look our best!
Amy Olsen, member of the
Department of Exercise and Sports
Science and cross country coach,
has worked at Meredith for five
years. In those years, she has not
seen an increase or decrease in
the body size of Meredith women.
“I believe it has been consistent/
Olsen states. However, Olsen has
several suggestions to make a
healthier and happy college experi
ence. For the average student,
Olsen advises 20-30 minutes daily
of exercise. Olsen believes that
exercising daily helps to form the
habit and makes your body and
mind more comfortable with exer
cise. Senior Lauren Connell states
“ I think when it comes to exercise
and nutrition, balance is the key.
Get yourself moving every day,
and eat lots of fruits and veggies!"
Olsen also suggests that you
should not fear the word "exercise.
Instead, Oisen suggests that you
getting a buddy or group to exer*
cise with and “surround yourself
with positive people who will build
each other up and be support
ive." Olsen also suggests making
variety in the exercise, Meredith
has a full gym and a swimming
pool. The campus can be used for
power walking, jogging, or bike
riding. Olsen also recommends
joining a team; an organized sport
will give lots of variety and wlH
provide a strong support system,
not to mention offers a lot of fun.
Olsen strongly advises that women
keep their workouts fun, whatever
they choose, Most of all, Oisen
whole-heartedly stresses that mod
eration is the key to anything. Do
not overload exercise or push your
body to unsafe limits.
Belk Dining Hall has made
strides in irnproving the healthful
quality of the food in the past few
years. Senior Lauren Connel has
headed up many of those improve
ments. Thanks to her, the dining
hall now makes several nutritional
options each day. Her freshman
and sophomore year, the din
ing hall did not offer a lean meat
or healthy carbs, such as whole
wheat bread or pasta. However,
with the help of a “Healthy Week”
where several nutritious options
were served and comment cards
requesting more healthy options,
the dining hall has made changes.
The SAAC, a campus organization
for student athletes, also assisted
in bringing about the new changes.
For example, for breakfast there
is a full fruit bar each day with
granola and yogurt options. There
are 13 choices of cereal; as well
as 2%, 1%, and soy milk. A classic
breakfast is served as well. There
are always a variety of bagels and
breads with a toaster available.
Dr. Eschbach noted in a nutrition
seminar geared towards athletes
that the key to nutrition is variety.
Eschbach advises students to eat
something different every day and
avoid categorizing foods as “good"
or “bad". Be conscious about
choices, but not obsessive.
Katie Heims, a senior nutrition
major living off campus in her own
apartment, offers some advice for
nutritional eating on a budget. “I
like to shop at the local farmer’s
market; the food is fresh and local
as well as sometimes being cheap
er than the grocery store.” Heims
also believes in cutting coupons
and reading sales papers. Helms
advises writing a grocery list and
sticking to the list. This will help to
control spending. Also, spontane
ous purchases are typically junk
food. While bargain shopping
does take time, the money saved
is well worth the effort.
While healthy lifestyles can
contribute to positive body image
perceptions, Amy Olsen stresses
that you must avoid “see your
self as an image, but [rather] as
a person. Think about the other
areas of life where you excel; your
kindness, intelligence, sense hu-.
mor." With this line of thinking and
the positive changes on campus,
Meredith is on the right track in
healthful living.
Photo courtesy http://beaut.ieAilogAvp-conteat/uploads/2007/06/
tieaHhy%20eating.)pg
ask gigi
Dear Gigi,
I am not going to be able to travel home for fall break this year, and it will be
the first fall break I will have stayed here in North Carolina. I am already long
ing to go home, but I am afraid I will be even more homesick when my friends
leave to go home for the break. There is not much to do on campus, and I am
Still not very familiar with the Raleigh area even though I have been at Mer
edith for two years.. Can you give some advice so that I am not too homesick
during the break?
Sincerely,
Homesick
Dear Homesick,
Let me start by assuring you that you will not be the only one on campus dur
ing break. There are others who cannot go home for different reasons. I have
a couple of ideas for you. If you do not want to stay on campus for the break or
you want to find a way to keep busy, talk to your friends who are going home and
see if you can go with them. If that does not work, then go to the office of Student
Leadership and Service and talk to Tabitha Underwood about the service trip that
will be going on over break. Finally, if neither of those two options work, do not
worry, staying on campus is not the worst thing In the world. It is quiet, so it is a
peaceful place to do homework,' read a book, or watch a movie, if you need to get
off campus there is always something going on in downtown Raleigh, at tfie malls,
Cameron Village, and of course the fair grounds. You have so many options that
there is no way you will have time to feel homesick.
Sincerely,
Gigi