Health and Human Services Professional Development

Stress and Food Choices Author: Melanie Burns Stress can influence eating patterns for college students, and eating patterns can influence college students’ satisfaction with how they handle problems (see  Cornejo & Cookston ).  Eating healthy does not need to end when you leave for college nor should it wait until you are through college.  While life stressors can make healthy eating less of a priority, making healthy food choices needs to happen every day. Little changes, such as eating breakfast and drinking low-fat milk, can make a difference in how you handle your weekly or daily stress.  The calories from the late-night pizzas and the all-you-care to eat dining hall buffets can add up quickly! For more information on making healthy food choices during the college years, visit the  USDA’s My Place On Campus . *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

     WHAT IS FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRTION, AND DIETETICS? FCS students who major in food science, nutrition, or dietetics gain an understanding of health problems, food choices, dietary management, nutrition strategies, and food science as they influence individuals, families, and communities. FCS food science, nutrition, and dietetics programs provide students with practical knowledge on the management of food, how to use food science, or prevent food-related health problems so that they can apply it when working with individuals and families in hospitals, government agencies, or other industry settings. Issues that food science, nutrition, and dietetics students may research include, but are not limited to: Child or adult obesity Diet crazes Portion sizes Fast food Food safety concerns Eating disorders School lunches WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRTION, AND DIETETICS? Jobs that one can get as an FCS food sciences, nutrition, and dietetics maj...

Food and Mood: Evidence for Diet-Related Changes in Mental Health by   Jenna Carlson, Guest Author   on   September 27, 2014   Do you ever feel down in the dumps some days and cheery other days? It may be because there is a connection between diet and mental health. The food you eat plays an important role in every stage of your life. Your brain is sensitive to the foods that you eat, and to remain healthy your body needs nutrients like grains, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Foods that contain grains, specifically whole-grains like bread can help to stabilize mood and provide energy. Likewise, foods that contain omega-3 fats like fish can help to boost your mood and performance. Foods high in protein like peanut butter help to your brighten mood, and aid in sleep. Also, foods which are high in vitamins, like vitamin B can be found in cheese, which play a role in your concentration and energy. Foods that contain minerals, like iron, which can be ...