Wellness Initiative Celebrates National Nutrition Month With Faculty and Staff Programs

What we eat matters! The food we consume has an impact on how we look and feel—our mood, energy levels, skin and hair—as well as how we age. Throughout the month, faculty and staff are invited to join programs from the Wellness Initiative to learn about getting healthier and nourishing our bodies with the nutrients they need.

Simple Food Swap Challenge

For faculty and staff seeking novelty in their daily diet or wishing to infuse healthier, nutrient-rich choices into their weekly food routine, the Simple Food Swap Challenge may be of interest. During this two-week, email-based challenge, participants will learn healthy (and easy!) food swaps that taste great through video demonstrations, recipe ideas and ingredient lists. An example of a “food swap” is substituting cauliflower rice for white rice in your favorite rice dish or swapping in “nice” cream for ice cream when you’re looking for a tasty treat! The challenge runs March 10-24 and more details can be found on the Simple Food Swap Challenge webpage.

Read It Before You Eat It: How to Decode the Nutrition Facts Label

Nutrition facts labels are designed to help us make sound decisions when it comes to the foods we eat, but they can be confusing. Faculty and staff are invited to join Executive Director of Wellness Gail Grozalis for an interactive workshop on reading nutrition labels on Thursday, March 18, from noon to 12:30 p.m. Participants will use a packaged food item from their pantry or refrigerator as reference and learn how to make sense of nutrition facts labels and why nutrition facts matter.

Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating Program

Am I Hungry? is a non-diet, weight-neutral approach that empowers individuals to take charge of their decisions about eating, physical activity, health and self-care. The eight-week interactive program will guide participants to reconnect with their physical signals to guide what, when and how much to eat, and recognize and cope with their triggers for overeating. The program begins the week of April 12. Sign up for an information session on March 24 from noon to 12:30 p.m. or March 25 from 1 to 1:30 p.m. to see if the program is right for you!