More whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and low-fat options will be on the menu when students return to West Virginia University this fall.
The healthy push is part of a new WVU Dining Services program called HealthyU,an outgrowth of the Wellness Centers launched last year in residence hall dining room1s.
The centers feature brochures about a variety of health topics as well as information about the U.S. Department of Agricultures new food guide pyramid.
Under the new HealthyUprogram, the long-term goal is to add nutritional labeling to all products offered in WVU dining facilities, said David Friend, director of WVU Dining Services.
Starting the first day of classes (Aug. 22), look for labels on menu items in each of the dining rooms as well as Hatfields in the Mountainlair.
Nutritional labeling is just the beginning. Daily menus are undergoing a makeover with the health conscious student in mind. WVU Executive Chef Eric Filburn is overseeing the development of lighter menus that are not only delicious and incorporate all of the necessary nutrients for a healthy diet, but also have a 2,000 calorie limit.
Our dietitian developed specific criteria for menu items, and Chef Filburn and his team developed recipes to plug into our menu cycle so that every day we can post suggested menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner that meet the official nutritional standards of the USDA ,Friend said.
Other elements of the program include HealthyUlabels identifying healthier food choices, brochures about various health topics, student focus groups and an emphasis on the Idaho Plate Method (a model used for portion control and maintaining a balanced diet).
Nettie Puglisi, a full-time dietitian for WVU Dining Services, plays a key role in the program. She speaks to groups in residence halls about the importance of good nutrition, helps develop healthy menus in residence halls, and counsels students with food allergies and special dietary needs.
I am proud to be working for a University that is dedicated to helping students improve their lives in more than just an academic way,she said.President Hardesty and David Friend are determined to make sure all resident students at WVU have the information necessary to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles.
To schedule an appointment with Puglisi, students may call 304-293-2096 ext. 16513 .
Future HealthyUplans call for a system-wide review of dining room menus to see if there are healthier ways to prepare recipes.
We are going to continue looking for more ways to communicate the importance of a healthy diet to our student customers,Friend said.WVU is a caring, nurturing community, and WVU Dining Services is an active partner in making sure our student customers are well served.
John Birchman, marketing director of Dining Services, said HealthyUis yet another example of how the WVU Wellness Initiativeestablished by WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. in 2003is bringing health issues to the forefront.
In June, members of the WVU dining management team participated in the Universitys first-ever wellness conference in Morgantown, where they learned about healthy recipes and the benefits of the Pritikin health plan.
Everyone came away with a better sense of how a residential dining program can impact its student customers by promoting a comprehensive wellness initiative,Birchman said.