Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 3/15/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Felix Ling Sunny Henderson, left, a second year graduate student in nutrition, explains the intricacies of fat to Henry Rafael, right, a senior in civil engineering, and Rethelje Caroro, center, a junior in occupational therapy.

Media Credit: Danielle Stolman From left, Danielle Reyes, a senior majoring in nutrition and food science, Jeremy Loader, a junior majoring in nutrition and food science and Jeremy Lampel a graduate student in nutrition and food science dressed as healthy foods while Shilpa Sharma, a graduate student in nutrition and food science held a sign reading "Libraries are for Reading Not Eating" at the San Jose City Council meeting Tuesday afternoon. The students attended the meeting to show their support of a measure that would require vending machines in the city's Library Department to include healthy snacks.

Strawberry, onion, potato and celery balloons smiled down on attendees as they made their way through the Nutrition Education Action Team's annual Nutrition Fair. Students followed the purple footprint placards that were strewn around the main floor of the Student Union Tuesday.

"Originally I was here for extra credit," said Joanna Murillo, a junior nursing major. "But I really am into nutrition, since it's a part of my career, and the booths look creative and I want to go up to every one."

A raffle booth and 14 informational and free testing booths were set up ranging in subjects of nutrition labels, strength training, water and what you should know about soda.

"Water is important because a huge part of our body is made up of water," said nutrition graduate student Julie Smith. "A lot of people seemed interested to know (that) we can survive up to four to 10 days without water and how much sugar you are getting with your soda."

The raffle giveaways for an iPod Shuffle and restaurants and store gift certificates were an extra incentive for students to stop by each booth and learn something about nutrition that they might now have known before, said San Jose State University Campus Dietitian Jennifer Waldrop.

Barbara Morris, an action team coordinator, said there were many volunteers from the nutrition department, as well as other departments on campus and outside groups who came to present information and answer questions.

"We always have a lot of handouts because we want people to go home since it's overwhelming walking around," Morris said. "You can ask questions now or wait until you get home."

There was a steady stream of people as booths were swamped with attendees, Morris said.

"The testing is really popular," Morris said. "People want to know something and it's free and plus the information boards help them learn."

Lawrence McNeil Jr., a graduate student majoring in sport management, who had a booth set up for his Child and Adolescent Development 149 class said nutrition was important because it increases the longevity and quality of an individual's life with a balance of exercise, health and stress management.

"I learned that by spreading health and nutrition to other people it helps me because I learn to live that way," McNeil said. "I just can't say it and not mean it. I live the way I live and it shows to a lot of people. It's not just meaningless words."

Waldrop said this was a very successful event with lots of students wanting to learn about nutrition and once they put it out there it tends to draw a lot of students in.

"(It's an) opportunity to put ourselves out there into the student community," Waldrop said. "It's good exposure for students' ideas to come together of what they know or don't know about nutrition."

McNeil said students will learn to make healthy choices and live a healthy lifestyle through events like the nutrition fair.

"People don't see that it will pay off later with the medical and doctor bills," McNeil said. "When you are older, all those are going to be really high if you don't start living healthy now."

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