Health on campus hindered by limited options
Timalyn Baker
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Opinion
By Timalyn Baker
Periodically, America goes on one of its "health kicks". One of the biggest I recall seeing in my lifetime is after the documentary Super Size Me came out. I remember watching it in health class at my high school and thinking, "This is the grossest thing I've ever seen in my life". The documentary sent restaurants everywhere into an uproar. Everybody was scared of being sued for having "health threatening" foods on their menu. They were not, however, scared of the fact that they were aiding in making America one of the most obese and unhealthy countries in the entire world.
We're still living with the effects of this. McDonald's, Burger King, and other numerous fast food restaurants now offer salads and grilled options vs. fried/breaded foods. Even our campus partakes in this new health awareness "epidemic" that is overtaking the nation. For example, the 'Balanced Way' food options that can always be found in Kosters. Now don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that they have this. But am I the only one that has noticed that the 'balanced way' never looks too appealing to the eyes or appetizing to the stomach? Nonetheless, I am appreciative of the "healthy" food selections that they offer as well as the select healthy options available in Café Ogle. As usual though, I have a bone to pick with them.
Sometime last week, a friend of mine was talking with me about being fit and eating healthy. In this conversation, the options that we have here on campus were brought up, as well as the ones that we do not have. Food that is considered by the school to be healthy is provided in Kosters daily. I'll let you define for yourself what healthy is before I call the food in either of the cafés healthy or not. As far as nourishment is concerned, though, don't food and drink go hand in hand?
Maybe you haven't noticed, but the only place that you can get a non-carbonated caffeine free beverage on campus, with your meal at no extra cost, is in Kosters. Should you really have to endure the Kosters' smell just to not drug your body with the bad effects of caffeine and carbonation? Now, carbonation is not the devil. That is not what I'm saying at all. Everything is okay, as long as it is in moderation. I mean, what is better to drink when you're nauseated and your stomach can't handle food…a Sprite or 7UP of course! Amongst Americans, the use of carbonated beverages is abused and is used for much more than getting rid of stomach aches. Carbonation in soft drinks has also been found to be related to esophageal cancer.
Periodically, America goes on one of its "health kicks". One of the biggest I recall seeing in my lifetime is after the documentary Super Size Me came out. I remember watching it in health class at my high school and thinking, "This is the grossest thing I've ever seen in my life". The documentary sent restaurants everywhere into an uproar. Everybody was scared of being sued for having "health threatening" foods on their menu. They were not, however, scared of the fact that they were aiding in making America one of the most obese and unhealthy countries in the entire world.
We're still living with the effects of this. McDonald's, Burger King, and other numerous fast food restaurants now offer salads and grilled options vs. fried/breaded foods. Even our campus partakes in this new health awareness "epidemic" that is overtaking the nation. For example, the 'Balanced Way' food options that can always be found in Kosters. Now don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that they have this. But am I the only one that has noticed that the 'balanced way' never looks too appealing to the eyes or appetizing to the stomach? Nonetheless, I am appreciative of the "healthy" food selections that they offer as well as the select healthy options available in Café Ogle. As usual though, I have a bone to pick with them.
Sometime last week, a friend of mine was talking with me about being fit and eating healthy. In this conversation, the options that we have here on campus were brought up, as well as the ones that we do not have. Food that is considered by the school to be healthy is provided in Kosters daily. I'll let you define for yourself what healthy is before I call the food in either of the cafés healthy or not. As far as nourishment is concerned, though, don't food and drink go hand in hand?
Maybe you haven't noticed, but the only place that you can get a non-carbonated caffeine free beverage on campus, with your meal at no extra cost, is in Kosters. Should you really have to endure the Kosters' smell just to not drug your body with the bad effects of caffeine and carbonation? Now, carbonation is not the devil. That is not what I'm saying at all. Everything is okay, as long as it is in moderation. I mean, what is better to drink when you're nauseated and your stomach can't handle food…a Sprite or 7UP of course! Amongst Americans, the use of carbonated beverages is abused and is used for much more than getting rid of stomach aches. Carbonation in soft drinks has also been found to be related to esophageal cancer.
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