Eli Vera/Contributing
Staying healthy as a college student can be more challenging than passing physics.
This is why Student Health Services invites all FIU students to eat smart with one of their Cooking Demo series events on Feb. 18 at Bay Vista Housing.
“Cooking Demo” is a monthly series of hands-on cooking demonstrations that show students how to prepare healthy food recipes that don’t require a lot of time and are easy to do.
Each month the Cooking Demo features a different theme, bringing a variety of health awareness related recipes.
The theme for this month is “heart health,” said Christine Tellez, registered dietitian at the SHS Wellness Center, “So we are choosing foods that are heart healthy.”
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. To raise awareness against heart disease in women, the American Heart Association has sponsored National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7.
“Trying to choose foods that have healthy fats like olive oil, nuts and salmon, we are going to do different dishes that have healthy fats in it,” Tellez said.
Students don’t have to worry about bringing anything to the table except an empty stomach and the curiosity to learn how to eat healthier.
Tellez usually picks and provides the ingredients that are taken to the common area in the dormitories, said Sarah Kenneally, senior health educator at SHS.
Tellez will share with students budget-saving recipes that include ingredients they should already have in the kitchen and that are quick to cook.
“We prepare the food and I try to get the students to maybe chop and they get to taste it afterward,” said Tellez.
At the Cooking Demo, questions are welcomed, and the host will provide guidance, like how to avoid midnight snacks because you barely had time to eat properly throughout the day.
Maintaining healthy eating habits can be difficult in the midst of classes, long commutes, work and internships; however, students can still be healthy if they are willing to make a few adjustments to their daily snacks.
Taking a few hours out of one day in the week to chop up some vegetables and marinate meat or fish can help you prepare fast snacks on the go, said Tellez.
On exam days, Tellez recommends to “get a lot of sleep and [eat] things with omega-3 fatty acids, which are a type of healthy fat.”
The fatty acids Tellez recommends are usually found in fish like salmon, sardine and tuna.
“It’s good for your brain. Walnuts are really high in omega-3 fatty acids, and flax seeds and chia seeds are a very healthy option,” Tellez said.
In combination with the Cooking Demo, it is also recommended for students to visit a doctor on or off campus. Taking this action can complement a healthy diet that fits every individual in accordance to their specific body needs.
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