Student eating habits revisited

Between classes, meetings, work-study and all-nighters that casually become routine the word "healthy" becomes a stranger to the average college student, especially when it comes to eating habits.

Let's face it, living in New Orleans makes eating healthy a little more difficult for those low-budget, high stress students who have the option of eating in one of the few locations that accepts Wolfbucks ----or indulging in the fatty cooking that characterizes Southern cuisine, and hitting the closest diner.

The list of unhealthy food is endless: from beignets powdered high with sugar, to rich and creamy red beans and rice, jambalaya or po'boys stuffed with seafood, the city we live in is saturated with restaurants that have the words "battered" and "fried" plastered all over their menus.

Put all these factors and temptations together and you run the risk of becoming yet another victim of the Freshman 15.

Fifteen pounds or not, weight gain that does not necessarily stop after college. What's worse, with the years, these eating habits become more difficult to change. For this reason it is important to make the effort and work towards a healthy diet before the weight gain gets out of hand. Besides, the Orleans Room baked cookies and Flambeauxs' two tiered cheeseburgers should be easy to replace, right?

"Apples," Liz Volpi, sociology sophomore said when asked what she considers is the healthiest choice of food offered at Loyola. Volpi said that when it comes to fruits and vegetables, both the O.R. and the C-Store have little variety and, "if you thought about most of the snacks offered at the C-Store, you'd mainly have images of cookies and potato chips in your head."

Mass communication sophomore, Emmanuel Herrero, agreed with Volpi when it comes to on-campus variety, he said that the vegetarian plates in the O.R. are a rare healthy option. "I don't eat them very often," Herrero said. "…but I like them when I do."

No one said it would be easy. Cafeterias are not exactly known for their gourmet health-food options.

This is where personal effort comes in. You must be conscious of what you eat, the portion serving, and whether it is nutritionally beneficial.

According to the Teens Health Organization, healthy foods (those high in vitamins, minerals and fibers) improve a student's concentration, memory and boost energy. As you may already know, these abilities are essential for paying attention in class and being productive during those late-night study sessions.

In addition, according to THO, "college-aged students are still building bone mass," therefore making the consumption of calcium-rich foods crucial.

For those of you who are wondering what is considered healthy, use the nutritional labels Sodexo provides above each serving station as your guide. If it has a green sticker, go ahead. If not, sindulge with caution.

"I personally don't follow any rules," Christina Morales, business junior said when asked how she maintains a healthy weight.

"I just suggest using smaller plates or complementing meals with mixed greens," Morales said. Pure salad, however, is not considered healthy either. Protein is also very important in a balanced meal.

So, leave the high-carb foods to a minimum and try eating whatever protein option is offered at the O.R.'s hot plate station. Try Tulane's cafeteria, Bruff Commons, or my favorite, Le Gourmet, which is located on Tulane's campus – which also accepts Wolfbucks.

It's not about becoming obsessive or feeling uncomfortable around food. On the contrary, take pride in what you eat and treat your body the way it deserves to be treated.

Natalie Verdina is a mass communication sophomore.

She can be reached at

                  nlverdin@loyno.edu