Did you know March is National Nutrition Month? On Wednesday, March 9, Gabby Stawinski of the Student Wellness Advocacy Group (SWAG) helped to promote nutrition on campus by providing many valuable recipes, resources, tips and more in the BSC concourse for students and faculty. 

“There’s tips on choosing healthy granola bars, the Chicken Pot Pie recipe from my last kitchen demo and a college dorm checklist,” Stawinski explained. “The checklist is more for first-years [living on campus] to help them know what [kitchen supplies] to have in their dorm.” 

One of the handouts available came from ChooseMyPlate.gov and provided 10 tips for making healthy eating choices in the dining hall. Here are some of the tips that students can remember when eating in Marketplace: 

• Know what you’re eating: this tip mentioned the importance of checking the dining hall menus and nutrition information ahead of time so that you can plan healthy and balanced meals. Ingredient cards are often set out above the various hot meals served throughout the day in Marketplace, however, they can also be found on the College’s website under “Dining Services,” found on the “Offices” page. 

• Enjoy your food, but eat less: this tip recommends taking smaller portions and using a smaller plate to help combat overeating in “all-you-can-eat” style meals, such as our Marketplace. 
• Make half your grains whole grains: switching to whole grains when you’re able to, such as at the deli counter or pasta bar.  
• Rethink your drink: instead of choosing sugary beverages such as sodas, coffee drinks, energy drinks, sweetened teas, etc., this tip recommends choosing water instead. Did you know that Americans drink about 400 calories every day? This can be decreased by switching from sugary drinks to water. A filtered water dispenser can be found next to the tray return in the Marketplace, and others can be found throughout the different buildings on campus. 
• Make it your own: don’t limit yourself to the pre-prepared choices. In our Marketplace, there are a few different stations that allow students to choose their own ingredients and meal prep process. These include the salad bar, the pasta bar, the omelet station, the deli bar and the grill. And, if you’re lucky, Pizza Dave over at the Hearth might just prepare a special pizza for you! 
• Make dessert special: we all know that the Marketplace offers a wide range of dessert options throughout the day. This tip recommends saving dessert as a Friday night treat or having it on special occasions. On those days when you’re craving something sweet but want a healthier option, there are often chocolate chips or M-n-M’s with the topping options found by the fruit and yogurt counter. My personal favorite? Strawberry yogurt with raspberries and chocolate chips… YUM. 

Even if you missed the table, there’s still chances to celebrate National Nutrition Month! Starting on March 14, you can participate in the #BlueJayBites Social Media Contest. The event is fully virtual. Students can use the hashtag #BlueJayBites to show off their healthy snack creations. All participants will be entered to win a Bentgo box.  

Next month, SWAG is also hosting an STI Tabling event on April 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sun Safety tabling on April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and “Blue Jays Flock Together” on April 21 in the Bowers Center. Additionally, May 2 to 6 is “Don’t Stress Before the Test” over in the Well to help students prepare for finals. 

Students should also plan to attend the semester’s final Res Hall Recipes session on Tuesday, April 5 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Demo Kitchen.  

If you are unable to attend any of these events, don’t fret! Feel free to check out the full event calendar, which can be found at etown.edu/bowers-center/events.aspx Enjoy your week, Jays, and stay warm!