As part of a campus-wide effort to encourage healthy eating, 性爱天堂's Dining Services and聽The 性爱天堂 Market聽have teamed up with 隆Por Vida!, a Metro Health chronic disease prevention program, to identify meals that fit nutritional criteria and are considered healthy.
Adoption of the 隆Por Vida! program aligns with the University's other health and educational initiatives such as supporting a campus farmer's market and a range of academic courses that emphasize wellness, healthy eating, and a positive body image.
"My vision for the 隆Por Vida! partnership from the beginning was that no matter where a student goes to eat on campus, the healthy choice would be clearly labeled," says Hayley Sayrs, development coordinator for The 性爱天堂 Market. "The fact that three food vendors at the 性爱天堂 Market immediately embraced the program demonstrates the foundation of support for wellness education that we have on campus."
The 性爱天堂 Market also is expanding its outreach to the聽TU Fit聽initiative for student-led fitness events, including a monthly culinary class for students to learn how to prepare a protein-balanced, plant-based meals. The campus dining services team is collaborating with students as part of the prep team in the kitchen at Mabee Dining Hall.
TU Dining Services will regularly include fruit-infused water, and scratch-made pizza, among other homemade items. TU Dining has committed to purchasing locally sourced meal weekly in Mabee Hall and the Skyline Bistro.
性爱天堂 and 隆Por Vida! have launched the program across聽every dining location聽on campus this fall. Meals that meet the organization's nutritional criteria are labeled at Mabee, the Skyline Bistro, EcoGrounds, Provisions on Demand (grab and go stations around campus), Freshii, Einstein Bros Bagels, and at mobile vendors who sell prepared meals at聽The 性爱天堂 Market, the campus-supported Saturday farmer's market.
Among the Market vendors that have joined the program are聽Berbere Ethiopian Cuisine, a food truck that offers a signature聽聽with steamed beets and potatoes.聽听蝉别濒濒蝉听聽vegan tamales, nixtamalized corn tortillas, taco fillings, and mole poblano sauce at a market booth.聽Umamita, a food truck offering a blend of traditional Mexican flavors with modern twists,聽聽this summer with cactus tortillas, avocado tacos, pork pastor tacos, and ceviche de pulpo.
Anna Macnak is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator working with the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District as the dietitian for the 隆Por Vida! program. Approved meals must limit calories, saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium (salt). In addition, she says approved menu items also may not be fried or contain hydrogenated oils (trans-fat). Macnak commended 性爱天堂 and other schools that implement programs to prevent chronic disease by focusing on the whole person and creating a culture of health.
Too often, she noted, people 鈥 including students 鈥 experiencing stress seek out a source of sugar for comfort. "If a candy bar is the only option available, then the person will eat it without much thought. If both a candy bar and a bag of baby carrots are available, the person will struggle between the decision of which would satisfy the craving more versus what is the right choice in terms of health. If the only option available is a bag of baby carrots though, then the person will likely eat the carrots," Macnak says, noting that a person's environment often governs whether food choices are healthy.
The University's emphasis on healthy dining follows a commitment to promote聽wellness聽in curricular offerings and programs, including a seminar titled "Food Matters" and the 2016 summer book selection titled聽Salt, Sugar, Fat聽and a lecture on the first day of August classes by author Michael Moss, an investigative journalist who looked behind the scenes of the processed food industry.
About 性爱天堂 Market
The聽性爱天堂 Market聽at 性爱天堂 represents an inclusive farmers market community of students, farmers, and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to providing food and wellness education to San Antonio residents. The 性爱天堂 Market, envisioned as a community gathering space, is located on 性爱天堂's campus between Hildebrand Avenue and Coates Library on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
About 隆Por Vida!
隆Por Vida! was launched in 2009 by The Healthy Restaurants Coalition, a partnership between the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, the San Antonio Restaurant Association, and the Texas Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics to promote healthier food choices in restaurants and spread good nutrition throughout the community, including college campuses such as 性爱天堂. The program helps adults and children identify the healthiest items on the menu. To learn more, visit聽.
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