Anyone who has taken Living Well on campus is likely familiar with the phrase, “eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” It refers to the three pillars Taylor’s kinesiology department follows for eating well, Scott Fenstermacher, assistant professor of kinesiology at Taylor, said.
However, eating well on Taylor’s campus feels difficult. Students have a variety of places to eat, but not necessarily a variety of healthy options.
For those trying to eat healthy, this may feel discouraging.
Labeling foods as “good” and “bad” isn’t helpful, Fenstermacher said. Instead, try looking at food through the lens of right relationship with God, self, others and creation.
“Food and my consumption of food, my relationship with food, is a reflection of my relationship with God, right?” Fenstermacher said. “God is creator. Food comes from creation, and God is our provider. Everything that we have is a gift from him.”
Approaching food with a heart of thanksgiving, whether it’s from the Hodson Dining Commons or from home, acknowledgesGod as provider and creator.
Right relationship with others is another aspect of a healthy diet, Fenstermacher said.. Do students interact with those who make their food as people made in the image of God? Do they rush to finish their meal on their way to class, or are they fellowshipping with those around them?
College students have a unique opportunity to practice fellowship in a way they won’t be able to after they graduate, Fenstermacher said.
“Think about silly things like going to Dan's Donuts at 2 a.m. as a relational thing,” he said. “Yes, you're eating food, but it's also building of relationships. You're going to Taco Bell late at night. You're not necessarily eating good food, but it's a healthy activity, because you're building relationships, and food is … the conduit that connects those relationships.”
The food itself might not be very healthy, but the posture toward it can be, Fenstermacher said. College students hoping to eat healthy may need to focus less on whole foods and more on the way food can point us to a right relationship with God and others.
Students can still think through “eat food, not too much, mostly plants,” which includes nuts, seeds, fruit, grains and rice, Fenstermacher said. Chick-fil-A every day is probably not the healthiest option, but it’s okay to eat it once in a while.
The key is to set up healthy eating patterns.
Eating protein, carbohydrates and fats with every meal is a good general guideline, Patricia Stan, associate professor of chemistry, said. It is recommended that protein should be 10 to 15% of your diet, fats less then 30% and carbohydrates the last 55% to 65%.
Starting a meal with a salad helps students not be hungry for less healthy foods, she said. She recommended drinking water or milk over sweetened beverages, avoiding processed food and artificial or natural flavorings.
Routine with food is normal, Erik Hayes, professor of kinesiology, said. He often hears students complain about the lack of diversity in eating options. However, people who live healthy lifestyles tend to eat similar things daily.
There are plenty of plant-based options on Taylor’s campus; students just need to choose them.
“That’s what you’re trying to do is develop healthy eating patterns,” Hayes said. “nd part of healthy eating patterns is enjoying good food and treats, but they're part of the pattern; they’re not the normal.”
Developing these patterns takes time and intentionality, he said. Like any discipline, it’s painful in the moment but later yields fruit for those trained by it.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Focusing on right relationship with God and others when building food habits is healthy, both spiritually and physically.
