HEALTH |
Healthy snack choices a rarity at GHCBy Seth Acuff There are numerous ways for a hungry Georgia Highlands student to get food or drink around campus. There are vending machines, a cafeteria and various Student Life fundraisers that can feed a famished collegian, but these options do not provide for someone who wishes to maintain a healthy diet. The most common beverage choice among GHC students is soda from one of the many vending machines located on campus. These sodas are packed with carbohydrates and sodium. The average 20-ounce bottle of soda contains more than 75 grams of carbs, more than 25 percent of the amount of carbohydrates that should be ingested if someone is following a 2000 calorie diet. That�s almost a meal in a single bottle of Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper or Coke Classic.
Vending machine companies place products in their machines according to what they think the students will buy. So, if students wish to change the food or beverage choices in the vending machines, they must contact the vending company and make a request. If students decide to dine in the cafeteria located on the GHC Floyd campus, they can expect 451 calories per burger, 120 per bun and 71 more calories for a slice of cheese. That is almost 600 calories just for a cheeseburger, and a serving of fries adds about 400 calories more.In light of these high caloric snacks, the GHC food service staff will soon post a flyer with nutritional information in the kitchen area so students can be better advised in their eating choices. |
The food vending machines usually located adjacent to the drink machines are convenient and cheap, but not the most healthful providers of nourishment.