 "Photo: Kerry Lentz")
Smart Choices has offered students an alternative to fried foods on campus. Now, Texas Tech is expanding its Smart Choices idea into campus-wide healthy living.
The Smart Choices store in the Student Union Building serves low-calorie, low-fat foods. Customers can build their own salads with low-fat dressings and sauces, or choose from a daily fish or baked chicken entrée.
The intent of Hospitality Services is to take the idea behind Smart Choices and put it into every meal concept on campus, said Kirk Rodriguez, associate director for retail of Hospitality Services. Tech already has incorporated some aspects of Smart Choices across campus. The Market allows students to build their own salads and offers brands such as Kashi and Lean Cuisine.
As part of the program to encourage healthy eating, Rodriguez said Hospitality Services is seeking new products. Part of that search included a beverage company visiting Tech's campus to test a healthy alternative to a sugary slush.
Tech students tasted free samples of Swirl last week in the Student Union Building.
Swirl offers a line of frozen, non-carbonated, vitamin-enriched beverages, said Chris Burtz, a representative of Swirl. With enough positive feedback from last week's tasting, the drinks soon may be served on campus.
Burtz said feedback has been positive, primarily due to the product being 100-percent juice and not containing high-fructose corn syrup or added sugar.
"It rivals just drinking orange juice," he said.
The Swirl drinks may be offered on campus as part of a new nutritional program at Tech, Burtz said.
Clifton Johnson, a senior electronic media and communications major, tasted the product and said he thought it was "all right," but prefers cola flavored slushes at 7-Eleven.
He said he still hopes the Swirl drinks will be offered on campus, as does Rodriguez, who said Swirl is one of many healthy options for students that Hospitality Services is looking to provide.
Offering healthier food to dining hall customers is only one of the things Hospitality Services is doing to ensure healthy lifestyles.
Dewey McMurrey, Tech's Executive Sous Chef, is providing students with the tools they need to eat healthy on campus, and at home. His Smart Choices Web site offers students information on food recalls and allergies, as well as healthy recipes and cooking techniques.
The Smart Choices Web site also gives students information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle with exercise, and lists locations on campus that offer healthy foods.
McMurrey said he puts together the menus and recipes Tech uses in its dining facilities.
"I'm constantly testing new products and new recipes, always looking for healthier and organic and more natural products," he said.
While the healthy living Web site is one of the major things Dewey and his staff are doing for Tech students and faculty, he said he also is available for free cooking demonstrations for students who would like to know more about preparing food.
McMurrey said the cooking method can be just as important as the food one cooks when it comes to eating healthy. Students can book a cooking demonstration with Dewey through the healthy living Web site.
With increasing national obesity rates, Rodriguez said he wants to help students make healthy choices.
"More and more students are asking us to help them make wise choices," Rodriguez said. "We're out to provide you a service, but we still have a financial bottom line."
Rodriguez said he is pleased with the food Hospitality Services offers, and is not afraid to try out new, healthy options. However, he admits not all the healthy food tastes good.
He said although profit is never Hospitality Service's number one priority, rising food costs are forcing the Hospitality Services team to think about how to make healthy options affordable to customers and to the university.
With substantial increases in food cost, Rodriguez said he is looking not only at nutritional value, but at the cost to the university and customers.
McMurrey said, while healthier food is more expensive, "It's safer and more satisfying to know that it is good for you."
Rodriguez said the university continues to buy products that cater to students who want healthy options. However, student budgets and buying habits still decide some of what Hospitality Services can offer.
"It's unfortunate that chicken strips, fried burritos and fried chicken sandwiches are still the number one movers," Rodriguez said.
Some students will always prefer a Krispy Kreme doughnut over an all-bran muffin, Rodriguez said, but he and his staff are "trying our best to provide items for you to feel good."
Be the first to comment on this article!