Students learn portion sizes at Better U - Bite into a Healthy U
By Michelle Rideau
Balancing calories, portion control, and essential food groups were the highlighted topics of Delaware Tech’s Better U health series held in the Fireside Lounge on March 10.
“Better U - Bite into a Better Lifestyle” focused on measuring serving sizes and applying every essential food for each meal. Delaware Technical Community College’s Better U is a free health series that informs students about healthy choices not only for their physical health, but their mental and emotional as well.
Each month offers a different theme relevant to students interests. Past events showed students how to improve their lifestyle, increase physical activity, making better eating habits, and reduce stress.
The event’s guest speaker was Medical Nutrition Therapist Kim Wescott, who has been a therapist at Beebe Hospital for 22 years and a registered dietitian for 25 years. She said that every year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics launches a campaign encouraging everyone to make better food choices to maintain weight and prevent chronic diseases. She said she chose her topic of portion sizes because she wanted the audience to think about what they’re eating.
“I was always interested in helping people in the healthcare field,” she said.
Wescott said she believes parents are the role models to begin healthy eating habits such as eating vegetables, breakfast, and choosing healthier snacks. She said people should “try to eat together as a family and cook more at home rather than eating out.”
“If the children see us making healthy food choices then they are going to do that too,” she said.
Wescott said she is aware of her portion sizes and even measures her cereal for breakfast. Although she has a “sweet tooth,” Wescott said portion sizes can make a difference. There’s a difference between a “scoop of icecream”, and a “bowl of ice cream.”
“We’re all human and I try the majority of the time to make healthy food choices,” Wescott said.
Wescott said she doesn’t believe in depriving the body or eliminating food groups or trying different diets. Instead, she challenges students to commit to physical activity every day and “choose a more plant-based meal plan” including more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
“All foods can fit,” she said.
Assistant Dean of Instruction Christy Moriarty is a member of the Better U committee responsible for guiding each event. She said the topics are chosen relevant to students interests and lifestyle. The committee hopes students will be “healthy in mind, body, and spirit” by applying what they’ve learned from the health series, she said.
“When a student steps onto the campus of Delaware Tech, we’re not here just for their education we’re here for their overall well being,” Moriarty said.
Nursing student Laura Gagnon attended the event because it is a co-curricular activity in her nutrition class. She said she never realized how portion sizes make a difference.
“I didn’t realize a cooked pancake was the same serving size of a cookie,” she said.
Gagnon said it was great to learn what to cook and how to cook different foods. She said she was going to apply what she learned at home and commit to a healthier eating plan.
“I’m going to try steaming my chicken when I go home now,” she said.
Gagnon said often times it’s hard to get students to interact in activities because they usually want something in return. But the event was informational and fun, she said. This was her second Better U event and her first time winning a prize. She encouraged all students to attend Better U events.
“They serve food here, smoothies, white chocolate, and we got free giveaways,” she said. “It’s not a boring type of thing; it’s really cool.”
To catch up on the Better U events, see the Owens Campus Facebook page.
