Every year on July 21, National Junk Food Day is celebrated all over the nation, giving people an opportunity to consume their favorite high-calorie foods often containing little nutritional value without the feeling of shame or guilt.
For some people, this is a day celebrated once a year before returning to regular healthy diets the next day, but for others, this holiday is an everyday occurrence, constantly raising the obesity rates in America.
According to Michigan.gov, Michigan has one of the highest obesity rates in the nation, with 32 percent of adults and 17 percent of youth in Michigan considered obese. Obesity is a growing trend, but MSU is doing its best to fight back.
Chris Neilson, manager of the Gallery at Snyder and Phillips halls, said MSU cafeterias offer a wide variety of healthy options, hoping to reduce obesity in young MSU adults.
“A lot of incoming freshmen are usually excited about the burger bar and pizza station when they first arrive, but after a day or two, they realize other options,” Neilson said. “They’ll eventually get excited about the salads, sandwiches and the fresh fruit that we offer.”
Journalism junior Riley Thyfault eats at MSU cafeterias every day during the school year, and considers herself to be in good health and good shape. She tries to choose healthy options while limiting her intake of high-calorie, unhealthy foods.
“I think the cafeterias do a great job of offering healthy options,” Thyfault said. “The hard part for me is not overindulging in the hamburgers and fries. I limit myself to the amount of food I want — it’s not like they only have one choice, I just have to make the right one.”
Besides MSU, East Lansing offers a local farmers market that runs from June through October in the Valley Court Park and usually attracts more than 1,000 visitors each week. The market features 24 Michigan-grown vendors that include a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, gluten-free products, baked goods and more.
The market also accepts SNAP Bridge Cards, or EBT, and Double Up Food Bucks for low-income families so that everyone can enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables regardless of income status.
Haslett resident and MSU alumna, Rebecca Titus, works at the market every Sunday, selling her family’s homegrown vegetables from Titus Farms. Her family started growing fresh, organic vegetables in 1982 and has continued since.
“We grow pretty much any vegetable you can think of,” Titus said. “We’re famous for our heirloom tomatoes and our green beans.”
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