I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I never cooked much of anything before I came to college. My parents made dinner every night (thanks, mom and dad), and when I got home from school, soccer practice or a student council meeting, I ate what was on the table. I didn’t once have to worry about how many ingredients made up my hamburger, how much salt was in my pasta sauce or how many calories were in the French toast (Yes, French toast—who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner?). My parents worried about that for me. They weren’t going to make unhealthy food for our meals, and all I needed to be concerned about were the snacks I had every now and then. Figuring out how to eat on a university campus rather than at your house is definitely an adjustment, and the universities should take action to help educate students about the dos and don’ts of college dining. 

Students our age probably don’t eat healthy because (1) They flat out don’t know how unhealthy some foods are, (2) they sort of want to know but are too lazy to find out or (3) they couldn’t care less. 

Ignorance is an inevitable problem when it comes to eating healthy. In my Intro to Nutrition class this semester, we did an activity in which we had to guess the amount of calories in specific foods. I’d like to think I know a little bit about food, but let’s just say my guesses were bad; OK fine, really bad—like so far off that someone could reasonably wonder if I answered the wrong question. Did you know that some slices of cheesecake from the beloved Cheesecake Factory have about 1,500 calories? Yeah, neither did I. The problem is that people aren’t accustomed to thinking twice or taking the time to find out. 

Thanks to NC State’s University Dining staff, you can’t use any of those three excuses anymore. Today marks Day 1 of Healthy Campus Week here at NC State. Our college is one of 26 that decided to participate in the Healthier Campus initiative of Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthier America. In order to engage in the program, universities must select 23 guidelines from a large list of nutrition and physical activity options. Being the first school to meet all 23, State is encouraging students to improve their diets with tips, events and prizes all week. “Wolf Approved” icons at the dining halls will guide you in your decisions to help you realize all the options you have for a healthier, yet still delicious meal. 

NC State is setting a great example for other schools. We hear a lot of talk about teens needing to eat better, but not many institutions actually help us do anything about it. Colleges have the power to influence and engage their students in a fun, effortless way to improve their eating habits and choices.

Sure, your instant Kraft macaroni and pizza bagels are OK once in a while, and if you grab an ice cream cone at Talley or a cupcake from Yates Mill Bakery, you’re not going to die. Just remember that NC State has many new alternatives for you to try too—new alternatives that are already approved to be great choices and certainly easy to access right here on campus. You’ve got the knife and fork already; now all you need to do is let the Wolf Approved Way help you so you can help yourself. 

P.S. Really. Putting aside the Ramen noodles for a while won’t kill you. I promise.