By Valentina Steen
For most college students, the last thing on their minds is what kind of foods they should eat to stay healthy. When you're constantly on the run and eating on campus, you don't want to spend time looking up nutritional facts. That's why Eisa Shukran, the University's director of dining services, created a nutritional corner incorporated in the Student Center Café with new food trends all over campus.
Trend-setters in nutrition have taken steps to provide a more proactive environment for health-conscious people, especially those who adore natural, organic and vegan foods.
Over the past five years, Lackmann Foods has worked with the directors and chefs to assemble a variety of appealing foods. In addition, they host a health fair each spring semester, along with a farmers market twice a year.
On the right-hand side of the Student Center Café lies the nutritional facts corner, which has answers to questions pertaining to your personal dietary goals. Additionally, first year students are lucky, because each year, during Welcome Week, the on-campus nutritionist talks to new students about the food options on campus. There is now a variety of healthy choices on campus. High-fat foods have been cut out, like junk food and sugar-laden candies. Instead, these have been replaced with baked chips and fruits and vegetables and there are more vitamin drinks and juices and more water available. Additionally, there are new crepes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with lighter fillings. If you prefer brown rice instead of white, now is your chance. The vegetarian station continues with themes that "are now more nutritionally conscious."
Shukran emphasizes that the workers can give you informative information about certain ingredients in foods. The on-campus nutritionist gives a little insight to a couple of fun food ideas. You can eat stir-fried foods with sauce on the side, smoothies with protein powder and fruits and choose from more selections of milk.
The University likes to hear from students about what they like and don't like and what should be changed. Since last year, when students were complaining about a lack of variety of healthy foods, they took it into consideration, and now there has been a drastic change.
Currently, surveys are conducted twice a year, one in the beginning of the year and at the end. The first one is currently available in all campus dining locations. Some of the feedback from last year included suggestions to add McDonald's, tacos, and a soup/salad stand. So don't be shy and spread the word.
Valentina Steen is a junior broadcast journalism student. You may e-mail her at vsteen1@pride.hofstra.edu.