Vending machines, although helpful, are expensive with a lack of healthier or allergen-friendly alternatives. | Ariana Rodriguez, PantherNOW
Ariana Rodriguez | Staff Writer
With food insecurity at an all-time high and barely functional vending machines providing unhealthy food options, it can be difficult for students to navigate a healthy and nutritional diet. FIU needs to take the steps to break the stigma of a college student diet.
The infamous “college diet” often consists of fast food, TV dinners, instant noodles and energy drinks. It’s imperative for educational institutions to take proactive steps in guiding students toward nutritious choices.
Especially for students who live on campus where the majority of restaurants close on the weekends or have business hours that aren’t suitable, we shouldn’t have to be limited to vending machine food and call it a sufficient meal.
By providing guidance, easy access to healthy recipes and enhancing the overall food options on campus, students won’t be forced to adapt to an unhealthy diet to survive.
The stereotype of college students surviving on ramen noodles and pizza is all too familiar. However, this trend is not only unhealthy but also detrimental to academic performance and overall well-being. FIU can address this issue by offering guidance and education on healthy eating habits.
Unhealthy eating habits can significantly impact academic performance by causing nutritional deficiencies, blood sugar fluctuations and weight gain. These factors impair cognitive function, memory and concentration—critical elements for success in academics.
Many may not immediately realize the connection between their diet and academic performance, accepting symptoms like fatigue and difficulty focusing as normal. Recognizing this link is crucial for promoting healthier eating habits and supporting academic success.
One practical approach to encourage healthier eating habits among students is by providing easy-to-follow recipe brochures and papers at 8th Street Campus Kitchen, aka the cafeteria. These recipes should be simple, affordable, and use readily available ingredients.
By offering a variety of nutritious meal options, FIU can empower students to make healthier choices both on and off campus. Incorporating cultural diversity in these recipes can cater to the diverse student population at FIU, making healthy eating more inclusive and accessible to all.
Most importantly, include more diet and allergen-friendly alternatives alongside providing the allergen-friendly options on the menu since FIU often cuts the menu of fast food chains, such as Taco Bell, which doesn’t have the power bowl.
While FIU offers a range of dining options on campus, the majority of these choices may not always align with nutritional guidelines. Many menus are dominated by fried foods, sugary snacks and high-calorie beverages.
FIU can collaborate with food service providers to introduce healthier menu options. This can include incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and plant-based alternatives into meal offerings.
Additionally, reducing the availability of unhealthy snacks and promoting healthier alternatives can steer students toward making better food choices. Especially with the abundance of the M&M vending machines on campus.
Creating a culture of wellness goes beyond providing nutritious food options; it involves fostering an environment that prioritizes health. FIU can implement campus-wide initiatives such as wellness challenges, cooking competitions and fitness events to promote healthy lifestyle choices.
By engaging students in interactive and fun activities centered around health and nutrition, FIU can instill lasting habits that extend beyond their college years.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.
FAQs
Unhealthy eating habits can significantly impact academic performance by causing nutritional deficiencies, blood sugar fluctuations and weight gain. These factors impair cognitive function, memory and concentration—critical elements for success in academics.
How does unhealthy eating affect college students? ›
A typical student diet of high-sugar or high-calorie foods can become a long-term issue as these habits can lead to obesity. Dr. Bottorff says there is evidence to show that stress and anxiety can cause overeating, but overeating can also lead to stress and depression.
Why do colleges serve unhealthy food? ›
Critics argue that university meal plans often prioritize convenience over nutrition, leading to an abundance of high-calorie, processed foods that are low in essential nutrients.
How does unhealthy food affect education? ›
Research suggests that diets high in trans and saturated fats can negatively impact learning and memory, nutritional deficiencies early in life can affect the cognitive development of school-aged children, and access to nutrition improves students' cognition, concentration, and energy levels.
What are the negative effects of an unhealthy diet? ›
Poor diet and physical inactivity are also associated with increased risk for the development of other chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and some types of cancer. It's never too late to start making healthy lifestyle changes.
Is it hard to eat healthy in college? ›
Eating healthy on a college schedule and budget can be difficult, but it's not impossible. Just like keeping up your grades, you need to work on keeping a healthy diet. It may be hard work, but we hope with these tips you can start to create healthy eating habits that'll stick with you.
What are the negative effects of fast food on college students? ›
In the short term, fast food impacts blood sugar and blood pressure, increases inflammation, and may mean an individual does not eat enough necessary nutrients. In the long term, a diet rich in fast food could lead to issues with digestion, immunity, inflammation, heart health, obesity, and more.
What are the cons of unhealthy school lunches? ›
Over several grade levels and leading into adolescence, not getting essential nutrients during meals can lower a child's IQ scores, memory capacities, fine motor skills, social skills, and language skills. Sleep can also be negatively impacted from an unhealthy school lunch.
How many college students struggle with eating healthy? ›
Stuart Murray — director of the Eating Disorders Program — and a team of researchers at Keck School of Medicine found that 15 to 20% of students face eating disorders in Los Angeles and Southern California, possibly because of psychological and social stressors.
Why is junk food bad for students? ›
Eating foods high in processed sugar can lead to increased inflammation and oxidative stress which can weaken and cause damage to brain cells. Diets high in sugar can also lead to mood disorders like depression which can affect a child's performance in school, as well.
Each school only gets about $1.30 to feed each child, and that doesn't only cover the cost of the food. It also covers the cost of labor, equipment and electricity. So it comes as no surprise that they can only opt for low-quality foods, as opposed to fresh produce, quality proteins and whole grains.
How does poor diet affect learning? ›
Eating well improves cognitive skills
Likewise, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can decrease the discharge of dopamine, a neurotransmitter vital for the learning process. Lack of vitamins B and E, as well as iron, thiamine, iodine and zinc, can inhibit the teenagers' cognitive abilities and mental concentration.
What are the disadvantages of eating unhealthy food? ›
In the long-term, eating junk food can lead to:
- type 2 diabetes.
- heart-related problems (such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol)
- overweight and obesity.
- osteoporosis.
- certain cancers.
- depression.
- eating disorders.
Animal and human studies indicate that an unhealthy diet can contribute to the development of many diseases, like cardiovascular disease and cancer, and can even affect the brain.
Why is US food so unhealthy? ›
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the average American diet consists of excess salt, saturated fat, refined grains, calories from solid fats and added sugars. Americans also eat fewer vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy products and oils than recommended.
How does food insecurity affect college students? ›
Anxiety and depression: Students with low food security are 4 to 5 times more likely to experience depression than their food-secure peers. Worse overall physical health: Food-insecure students consume fewer vegetables and fruits, and their meals are usually nutrient-poor.
What are the 3 effects on students from having unhealthy school lunches? ›
Over several grade levels and leading into adolescence, not getting essential nutrients during meals can lower a child's IQ scores, memory capacities, fine motor skills, social skills, and language skills. Sleep can also be negatively impacted from an unhealthy school lunch.
How does poor nutrition affect students learning? ›
Eating well improves cognitive skills
Likewise, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can decrease the discharge of dopamine, a neurotransmitter vital for the learning process. Lack of vitamins B and E, as well as iron, thiamine, iodine and zinc, can inhibit the teenagers' cognitive abilities and mental concentration.
How eating habits affect the academic performance of students? ›
The daily consumption of sugars (26.4%) and the low intake of vegetables and the mid-afternoon are associated with low performance among private university students. Conclusions: Students with a higher performance show healthier eating habits, with higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, and mid-afternoons.
Vending machines, although helpful, are expensive with a lack of healthier or allergen-friendly alternatives. | Ariana Rodriguez, PantherNOW