Hungry? Not sure what to do? MSU nutritionist Ronda Bokram has your answer.
"If you're hungry, eat," she said. "You have a metabolism unless you're dead."
If you live on campus, you probably don't have the option of going home and cooking yourself a nice, healthy meal. Your options are limited to the cafeteria or whatever you can maneuver in your room.
Then there's the option of fast food, but a person only can take so much before they suffer the consequences.
Eventually, students are forced to find some kind of balanced eating pattern, preferably with a healthy side to it. While living on campus, eating properly can be a challenge.
"You could do it, but it's hard when you can't make your own food, and it's hard to keep a lot of healthy stuff like fruit around here," said Heather Burgess, a freshman residing in Akers.
Many students said meals consisting of cereal bars, popcorn, Easy Mac, Ramen Noodles, pop and various brands of potato chips are staples in their dorm rooms.
While every food has potential nutritional value, Bokram feels this list won't cut it when it comes to being healthy.
"Eating healthy is not looking at one day or one nutritional label," she said. "It's about a variety over time and a good balance of foods using the food pyramid as a guide."
But many dorm residents, including accounting junior Jennifer Clancy, feel keeping a nutritious diet is difficult to maintain.
"When I first came to MSU and was eating in the cafeteria, it was most definitely less healthy than at home," Clancy said.
Cafeteria official Bruce Haskell said the cafeteria's goals are to put out a wide range of foods that complement each other for each meal. They are giving students the choice of what to put on their plate, he said.
"We take into account a variety of things with the philosophy that we provide a balanced array of foods that, when you take in the correct portions, you can have a healthy lifestyle," Haskell said.
To get nutritional facts on specific dishes, a student would have to meet with their residence hall's food service manager.
The food service program is working on the availability of nutrition facts. Within a year, they plan to have them all available in the dining halls and online.
Bokram said the key is to know your own eating needs.
"Remember when you go into the cafeteria to stay in touch with your body, think 'How hungry am I, what do I need, and when am I full?'"
Holmes resident Jessica Wilkins said the cafeteria meets her needs.
"I eat better," the no-preference freshman said. "I have been eating less and there's nutritional options that I choose."
Wilkins said she fills up on options such as the vegetarian and salad bars.
But temptation comes into play for many, including journalism freshman Jeremy Scott.
"There is just so much, like if you see chocolate cake you'll want it, and then you'll eat it," he said.
And while many of us would classify cake as bad, and salad as good, when it comes to health benefits of foods, Bokram said that is not a healthy habit.
"I don't think any food is bad. Too many people have that philosophy." Bokram said. "When people are afraid of food, they are more likely to do negative things like restrictive eating and bingeing."
