What you eat largely impacts the way your mind and body function. A simple shift from drinking soda to drinking water can do much more for you than cinch your waistline. But not everyone knows that. That is why OU’s Huston Huffman Fitness Center will be hosting a new ‘healthy eating’ class this summer.
Heather Kirkes, coordinator at The Houston Huffman Fitness Center said, the goal of the ‘Full Plate Living’ class is to instill education that encourages students to embrace better eating habits.
“What effects I found interesting for the healthy eaters are, more than ever, their mood changes; digestion…. They can fit into their clothes; their sleeping—even the mental status and concentration of the college students at OU [improves],” said Kirkes.
According to Kirkes, healthy nutrition can increase productivity at work, school, or in personal studies, and an education on it can actually help kick-start that healthy lifestyle.
She said the class will focus on “how to have a healthy nutrition by adding diet, super foods and fiber to work on people to develop healthier eating habits.”
Small changes in eating habits may even replace the need for a pick-me-up, like caffeine.
OU Food Services Dietitian, Fran Olsen Sharp, said OU Food Services is considering offering monthly nutrition classes to students.
“We are going to talk about not only, these foods are higher on omega-3s or these foods are higher in fiber, we’re going to look at the nutrients that are lowest in the American diet that puts nutrients at risk,” Sharp said. “We’re going to do more posters, website; we are wanting to work with some apps.”
Olsen Sharp says that the type of food people consume affects the way they think and feel. People should be aware of eating the right amounts and types of carbs, proteins and fats for optimum physical and mental health.
“There is lots of research that indicates there is a huge effect on nutrition on a lot of mental health-related things,” Sharp said.
According to Kirkes, the variety of people who take the ‘Full Plate Living’ class have a positive response within the 8 weeks from taking the class.
“About 5-10 students attend the health classes and we try to encourage and offer suggestions for healthy eating,” she said.
Director of Food Services, Frank Henry, said a variety of health foods are offered at many OU restaurants, concession stands and residence halls.
“We give the students what they want in terms of healthy foods, we put out what we can put out, and we let the students make up their mind,” Henry said.
OU transfer student Rebecca Walters agrees with Henry, expressing the importance of healthy eating.
“I feel like [OU] offer[s] plenty of healthy choices here. I definitely think it’s useful to learn how to cook and eat healthy for when you’re on your own,” Walters said.
For more information about the Full Plate Living class click here.
