By Erin White
“The Freshman 15,” a thought that instills fear in the hearts of many new college students, can easily turn into an inevitable reality. It is important for students to understand how the changes in their eating habits will affect their body and wallet.
Camille Korenek, director of Van Zile dining services at Kansas State University, has advice for fearful freshmen on how to combat unhealthy and wasteful eating habits that many acquire then take into their lives after college.
She is charged with providing the nearly 550 Kansas State students with interesting culinary experiences; however, her top priority is providing healthy options and maintaining their well being.
Korenek’s interest in food stems from childhood and intensified when her father was diagnosed with diabetes. She is one of nine registered dietitians with The Department of Housing and Dining. Kansas State University has more registered dietitians on staff than any other college in the country.
If Korenek could encourage three eating habits in new college students, they would not be the usual admonitions – “Drink in moderation,” or “You can’t eat fast food for every meal,” or “Energy drinks are not a food group.”
“First, you can’t eat everything you see,” she said.
She said freshmen don’t understand that they should maintain similar eating habits they had at home. This major change is a contributing factor of the much unwanted weight gain that usually finds its way to freshmen – the infamous “Freshman 15.”
Many students, especially those that live in the dorms, have numerous options available to them at each meal. Having the options so conveniently available invites students to eat larger portions, a larger variety, or items, such as dessert, they would not normally eat.
Rule No. 2: “Students don’t have to pile on food the first time through the cafeteria line.”
Korenek explained that overloading their trays creates a large waste of food, and that students need to learn to take smaller portions and return for seconds if they wish. This suggestion can help students to maintain equitable habits and reduce food waste in the future.
Finally, she stated that she wished that students understood that all fruits and vegetables are not always in season. Students rely on having the foods they like at their disposal. It is important for students to understand that it may not be feasible or possible to have the foods they want at all times.
Korenek maintains a watchful eye over the Kansas State students. She hopes to maintain an effective and nutritious operation and instill healthy and equitable eating habits in her students for many years to come.
