It was the first of five workshops that will teach students, faculty and staff how to eat healthier and have a healthier lifestyle.
Students were introduced to menu planning, portion control and identifying healthy lunches and snacks. Tips about what kinds of foods you should be eating and how many meals one person should eat per day were also given.
“Skipping meals every day is not very healthy for you and you should have at least four meals a day,” said Tatiana Burton, health advisor in the Health and Wellness Center.
One tip given at the workshop was to reduce the rate of eating. It takes between fifteen and twenty minutes to get a message to the brain that the stomach is full.
Another useful tip that was discussed is to not sit on the sofa and watch television all day. Getting out and being active helps people to be healthy.
Health and Wellness services available
When someone comes into the Health and Wellness Center for the first time asking for help, he or she is assigned to a health counselor or advisor. From there, a plan is developed that ranges from six to eight weeks or more depending on what type of help the person is looking for and what the goals are and what he or she wants to achieve.
The person may also be assigned a buddy or partner who is working on the same goals. They are there to support and help each other accomplish their goals. If no partner is available, a coach will be there to help the person along and fill in as a partner if needed.
The person will develop an exercise plan if that’s one of the goals. Having a partner to workout with benefits both people and is good for motivational support. Nutrition and fitness is the goal for a healthy lifestyle.
“The goal of the program of the individual is not to stop, or to give up, but to keep on track,” Burton said.
Those who want help in living a healthier lifestyle should contact the Health and Wellness Center, which is located on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus in the Student Center, Room STC 035.
The second workshop of the series is titled “How To Read Nutrition Labels” and will be held Feb. 23, 2012 at noon.
In April, the Health and Wellness Center will launch its own website.
