Best Choice Vending

Campus Wellness partners with ECU Business Services to provide a food and beverage vending machine in the Student Recreation Center called “Best Choice Vending.” It’s the only vending machine of its kind on our campus!

Items are selected based on nutritional quality when compared to standard vending snacks. Our beverage machines offer water, flavored water, and a variety of Gatorade flavors. Our food vending offers pretzels, baked chips, dried fruit, trail mix, and nuts. 

By including only healthy snacks,you have it easy when deciding on “the best choice” when it comes to vending options.

Eat Well in College

Now that you are in college you have a lot more freedom.  Part of that freedom is choosing what and when to eat.  A little planning and some reliable nutrition education can help you make choices that will support your body and mind.

Learning variety, balance and moderation with all foods can help you get the nutrients necessary for good health while still allowing you to enjoy all foods that you love to eat.

• Eat Regularly. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in unintended overeating.  Eating regular meals throughout the day will help you maintain your energy and prevent your metabolic rate from lowering.
  
  
• Eat a Variety of Foods. You need more than 40 different nutrients for optimal health and no single food or food group can supply them all. Consuming foods from different food groups, as well as different types of foods within the food groups, will ensure that you are eating a variety of foods.
  
  
• Balance Your Food Choices. About 2/3 of your meal should consist of whole grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables. The remaining 1/3 should consist of lean meat, poultry, fish or other vegetarian protein sources such as beans and nuts.
  
  
• Watch Your Portion Sizes. By keeping portion sizes appropriate, it is possible to eat the foods you enjoy without unwanted weight gain.
  
  
• Drink Plenty of Fluids. Most adults need 1/2 ounce of fluids per pound of body weight to remain adequately hydrated. Water is preferred over most beverages, but you can also get fluids from juices, milk, tea, coffee, soft drinks, etc.
  
  
• Don’t Fall Prey to Diet and Supplement Claims.  If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

http://www.MyPyramid.gov

http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com/

http://www.nutrition.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=11&tax_level=1

http://www.eatright.org

http://ods.od.nih.gov/

http://www.organic-center.org

http://www.vrg.org

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Someone with anorexia will have body image distortion (likely see themselves larger than they are) and an intense fear of gaining weight or maintaining a healthy weight.  

Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by cycles of binging (eating large amounts of food in a short period of time) and purging (getting rid of food). There are different forms of purging including self-induced vomiting, fasting or strict dieting, excessive exercise, and abuse of diet pills, laxatives or diuretics.  

Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of binging (eating large amounts of food in a short period of time).  

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, take advantage of the campus resources that are free and available to you. Contact Campus Wellness for general information and program requests at 328-5171. 

Students can receive free nutrition counseling by a Registered Dietitian at Student Health Services by calling 328-6841, and free psychological counseling at the Center for Counseling and Student Development by calling 328-6661.

For more information, please visit these websites:

http://www.anad.org/

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

http://www.something-fishy.org/

http://www.nourishingconnections.com/

Body Image

A positive body image is defined as seeing yourself as you truly are (no distortion); feeling comfortable in and about your body; not spending a lot of time trying to change your physical body; and appreciating your body as it is and what it does for you.

A negative body image is defined as having a distorted view of your body or specific body part; feeling uncomfortable, embarrassed, or ashamed about your body; spending lots of time, money, or going to extreme measures to changing your body; and believe that a perceived “flaw” is a sign of personal failure.  

Some of the most common influences on body image in today’s society include media (TV, magazines, models, celebrities, and advertisements), peers, family and friends. Many messages that we see and hear tell us that we are not good enough the way that we naturally are, and will be “better” if we change, which contribute to negative body image. 

However, more positive body image messages are appearing in the media that encourage us to celebrate ourselves and our bodies just as we are. Campus Wellness provides educational programs to bring awareness about body image and offers suggestions on how to improve your own body image. 

Additionally, students can also meet with counselors at the Center for Counseling and Student Development to discuss body image concerns.

For more information, please visit these websites.

http://www.bodypositive.com

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

http://www.adiosbarbie.com/