Interested In “Social Networking”? Check Out Dinner in UHDS Dining Centers!
We have begun the Wellness Roundtable Series and it has been a pleasure to meet you and observe the “dinner scene” in UHDS dining centers. Dinner is a much more relaxed and social and lacks the busy, driven pace that the lunch hour takes on. Dinner is definitely about slowing down sharing a great meal (and laughter) with friends.
It is no surprise that we like to eat together and studies show that social eating can be good for us by improving our sense of “social connectedness” which contributes to our overall sense of well being. Some studies show eating in a social environment can actually improve one’s overall nutritional status; this is particularly the case for those who are socially and physically isolated.
There also can be relationship between social eating and weight gain and we may eat more calories when we are with others than we do when we are eating alone. We also tend to take in more calories when we eat at restaurants compared to when we prepare food for ourselves.
On a bright note, we can also positively influence on each other….studies show that people with strong social ties (couples, friends, family members) that exercise and engage in healthy eating together have improved success in weight loss and overall health outcomes.
So by choosing a nice crisp apple for a side or a snack you may improve your health and you may be a positive influence on your friends! Give it a try!
I’m looking forward to meeting more of you at the Wellness Roundtable, a fun “discussion over dinner” group in the UHDS dining centers for any and all that would like to join. Look for the Wellness Table Talk sign in the dining centers; that is where we will be meeting. Scroll down my January 5th blog to view timeframes and topics of discussion.
See you soon! Be Well!
Tara Sanders
UHDS Registered Dietitian
Tara.sanders@oregonstate.edu
Hi everyone:
The upcoming week is going to be my fourth week back, since the winter break, and the start of midterms once again. Last term was very stressful trying to balance all my time with the activities I was doing and the amount of homework I received. This term I think is going to feel less of a workload, although it is not, because I now know what to expect and have found the way to manage my time wisely, while still investing a large portion of time into my studies. I feel like I belong here at OSU and for the next four or five years this town is going to be the place I call home. When I went home for the winter break I felt more matured and that I connected more with my family and the friends who didn’t have the opportunity to go to college. I feel I understand my parents more and why they make the decisions they do. I am really grateful for them and am so happy they pushed me as hard as they did, so that I could do the best I could in school, to get me where I am today. I am excited to see what this term is going to be like and hope for many new adventures and experiences. Have a great weekend,
Lizeth
Well this term is finally over and I am now in my hometown, Brookings, Oregon. It feels awesome and great to know that I have finished my first term in college with straight A’s, and that I survived the emotional rollercoaster that college puts people through. When I finished my last final I felt overwhelmed with happiness and also felt no more stress, because I knew I was going to get to go home and enjoy the company of my family. When I arrived at home for the second time since the beginning of the school year it made me feel so good. I really missed my family and their crazy way of being and doing things. My mom cooks me my favorite meals and really shows me how much she has missed me over the few months I have been gone. When I went back to my high school, to watch a basketball game, it felt different and weird to be back again and see the changes while I was away, but it was good to see my old teammates and other friends and just be able to catch up and talk. Being away from OSU is a relief because I don’t have to think about homework, tests, papers, and all the other activities college requires. I do miss the friends I made and the independence I had in OSU, but I will be there soon and have all those things again. Now that I am home I am taking it pretty easy, relaxing, and catching up on the sleep I missed doing assignments and studying for tests. Overall, my first term in college was a success. I made many memories and friends, accomplished my goals for the term, gained new experiences being a student and an intern for university housing and dining services, and learned new techniques to succeed in school. I also discovered that college is not a scary place where everyone tries to make your life difficult. It is a place where you grow as an individual, find out who you really are, and expand your knowledge. College is hard most of the time, but after experiencing all the great things I have I would never want to go back to high school. Well I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Years!
Lizeth
Welcome back to OSU! Hopefully your break from classes was restful and enjoyable!
I’m looking forward to meeting with you all for the Wellness Table Talk Series beginning this term. This will be an informal and fun “discussion over dinner” group that will meet in the UHDS dining centers for any and all that would like to join. Look for the Wellness Table Talk sign in the dining centers—this is where we will be meeting.
The meeting schedule will be the same each month for the following dining centers:
McNary: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 5-6 PM
Arnold: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 5-6 PM
West: 4th Tuesday of the month, 5-6 PM
Here is a sneak peak at some of the topics we will be discussingJ Although we will talk a bit about these topics, the conversation will be open to any and all wellness related topics you all would like to discuss!
January: Immune Boosting Behaviors
February: Make Your Calories Count: Energy Balance
March: Fruit and Vegetables: Why Color Is Important
April: A New Look At Sodium: Can It Cause High Pressure?
May: The Power of Whole Grains
See you soon! Be Well!
Tara Sanders
UHDS Registered Dietitian
Tara.sanders@oregonstate.edu
