Eagle Dining Encourages Campus to Take “Smart Bites”

March 12, 2015

In order to celebrate National Nutrition Month this March, Eagle Dining Services has created the “Smart Bites” campaign to encourage nutritious eating. Brittany Parham, nutritional coordinator for Eagle Dining and creator of the campaign, says it is a simple way for people to “take healthier bites for smarter living” by making it easier for faculty, staff and students to enjoy delicious and healthy meals on campus. Throughout March, students can earn “smart bite” points on “Wellness Wednesdays” by sampling various healthy recipes around campus and then taking a survey regarding the recipe they tried. The top 20 respondents will be invited to “Brittany’s Brunch,” a reservation-only lunch on Friday, March 27, hosted by Parham and featuring several Georgia Southern exercise and nutrition experts as well as University President Brooks Keel. The top three respondents will win one of several prizes, including a Fitbit Flex wireless activity and sleep tracker. Whether you participate or not, Parham says eating healthier doesn’t have to be a chore. She recommends the following five tips for taking smart bites this month:

1. Choose brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are filled with essential vitamins and antioxidants which help the body to function.
2. Select lean proteins and whole grains. Parham suggests trying lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, lean beef and fish. She also suggests grilling, steaming or baking meats instead of frying to preserve more nutrients. Whole grains are full of fiber and give you a boost of energy.
3. Always taste food before seasoning. Before automatically reaching for the salt to season your meal, Parham encourages you to taste your food. She said it is easy   to over-salt your foods and this habit can increase your sodium intake, leading to high blood pressure.
4. Monitor portion size. For each individual, the recommended serving size of fruit and vegetables is the size of your fist, and the recommended serving size of meat is the palm of your hand. Parham says this is an easy reminder not to overfill your plate.
5. Try new foods and dishes. On Wellness Wednesdays throughout March, students can visit Traditions in Dining Commons and Tilted Skillet in Lakeside to sample foods -- offered every day in the dining facilities -- they typically wouldn’t try.

These tips and other healthy suggestions can be found in the dining facilities as a part of the “Smart Bites” campaign throughout National Nutrition Month. “Smart Bites” prizes sponsored by Tech Corner.