A trip to the Fresh Madison Market on the University of Wisconsin campus
offers valuable insights into the diet of the archetypal college student. As one strolls
past the shopping carts in the checkout line, he or she is likely to see a plethora of
stereotypical “college foods”: Everything from frozen pizza to Easy Mac, and of
course the quintessential Ramen noodles. But what is often lacking in those carts
are the fruits, vegetables and whole grains that form the building blocks of a healthy
diet.

In light of the financial and time constraints of being a college student, the
motivation for consuming these affordable and easy to prepare foods is obvious.
Fast food restaurants also play off of these constraints by offering inexpensive but
less healthy food choices that cater to college students’ desire for convenience.
Taking into account these considerations, it is inevitable that poor nutrition is a
prevalent issue on college campuses.

With some exceptions, it is apparent that far too many college students are unaware
of what constitutes a healthy diet, and the food they
consume and the daily meal choices they make have serious implications for their
overall well-being.

This lack of awareness often stems from a lack of knowledge about educational
resources and guidance. This shortcoming can be addressed via quality services
aimed at providing appropriate counseling and direction to students regarding their
dietary choices.

The University Health Services
(UHS) provides preventative health services aimed at addressing a wide array of
health-related factors. But, as a staff member in the counseling division informed me, one group of services you may not be aware of is nutrition counseling. These nutritional counseling services are free and
available to UW students by appointment; UHS has two nutritionists on staff to
provide initial visits with students and follow-ups as necessary.

Although the fundamental framework of a healthy diet seems obvious to some, it is
wrong to assume that the elements of this framework are widely understood. There
are certainly individuals who are aware of the dietary changes they need to make
in order to improve their overall health.

However, there are also many that would
like to strive for this, but are unsure of what nutritional alterations they need to
make and how to implement them into their lives. Additionally, the constant
publication of convoluted and contradictory nutritional research and news makes
it increasingly difficult for even the savviest consumers to recognize what is and is
not “healthy.”

For individuals in this predicament, the prospect of changing their routine can be
daunting. Such a venture can easily seem overwhelming initially. However, with
adequate assistance and education, anyone can gain the confidence necessary to
make tangible dietary and lifestyle changes for the better. A discussion with a UHS nutritionist to develop a basic meal plan and a personal
strategy for better eating habits may be helpful. This would provide students with the knowledge
and momentum they need to make healthier food choices on a day-to-day basis, yielding positive health benefits and the prevention of potential health-related
problems.

Another possible approach to addressing the nutrition issue on the UW campus should be more campus-wide events to create awareness of the problem and
propose potential solutions. In addition, emphasizing awareness of healthy eating
to freshmen in residence halls may be an effective means of helping them cope with
the transition into college. This programming could include what constitutes good
nutrition, and what the best food choices are for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

In
terms of the overall campus student community, another avenue would be to better
promote the nutrition services already offered by UHS. By doing so, students would
be able to receive the help they need to make positive nutritional changes, and
UW would send the clear message that nutrition is an issue critical to the health and
wellness of the campus.

There are both short and long term effects from poor nutrition and lifestyle choices,
which is why it is critical that young people begin making positive changes now to
prevent potential negative health consequences in the short term and in the future.
Readily available nutritional services are an important way to provide students with
the necessary knowledge they need to implement a healthy approach to eating well.

Students should seriously consider taking advantage of the nutrition services UHS
provides. And it would be wise for officials at the campus level to work toward raising the awareness
of the importance of good nutrition and healthy eating for its students, faculty and
staff. “Eat well to live well” is a slogan on one of the UHS web pages. We should all
take this to heart.

Hannah Sleznikow ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in political science.