It's time for Dining Hall 101

By ANNE GLEASON, Staff Writer

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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	Staff photo by Fred J. Field Sophomore Josh Thibodeau leads the way in the "fun run" at Saint Joseph's College on Monday. The intergenerational event was started last year to raise nutrition awareness and introduce new students to the fitness facilities on campus.
	Staff photo by Fred J. Field Participants gather and begin stretching before the Labor Day 'fun run" at Saint Joseph's College in Standish on Monday. Concern about unhealthy eating habits for college freshmen has spurred a number of nutrition-conscious programs at various colleges.

Christine Schwartz has a vast knowledge of student eating habits in the dorms.

As director of dining services at Bates College in Lewiston, Schwartz typically observes a dramatic spike in "salad bar intake" at the dining halls around the time the spring semester rolls around.

That's when students start to notice the infamous weight gain known as the "Freshman 15" -İthe result of such things as unlimited food quantities at dining halls, snacking in dorm rooms and late-night partying -İand then decide it's time to take control, she said.

"Part of the rite of passage (of college) is learning to control what you do. Mom and Dad aren't there to control what you do anymore," Schwartz said. "The Freshman 15, in my opinion, is a rite of passage."

But it's a rite of passage that some view as an undocumented myth. A recent study of 67 Rutgers University freshmen revealed an average weight gain of only three pounds between September and April, according to the July-August edition of the Journal of American College Health.

But it's also a rite of passage that colleges are taking seriously as students arrive on campus this week. Many colleges are working to combat freshman weight gain by promoting fitness, providing healthy dining options and educating students about overall health.

Saint Joseph's College in Standish created a Labor Day "fun run" last year as a way to introduce new students to the fitness facilities on campus. It continued this year.

"We wanted to show the students, from the very first day, that keeping fit while in college is not only fun, but it's easy," said college president David House. "Fitness and exercise are not just for athletes. Sometimes students in college forget that. Unless they're on the team, (many students) tend to focus on social things and, of course, classes."

The college also targets unhealthy habits through its dining services program. Six years ago, Saint Joseph's began contracting with Bon Appetit for food services. The food management company puts a high priority on promoting sustainable food, buying from local farms and emphasizing a healthy lifestyle, said Stuart Leckie, director of food services at Saint Joseph's.

The dining halls at the college are equipped with icons and signs to help students navigate the food buffet, indicating which items are vegan, vegetarian, organic, low-fat or local "farm-to-fork" products, among other labels. Leckie also puts tent pamphlets on dining hall tables, with information on various topics, such stress-related eating.

At the University of Southern Maine, a group calling itself "The Bod Squad" works to counter the perception that the Freshman 15 is inevitable.

The group, made up of staff and students and created about 10 to 15 years ago, initially existed to address eating disorders but now has a broader focus on overall health.

The Bod Squad offers health programs and spreads information about nutrition, said Marianne Russo, a registered nurse with USM's health services unit. This fall, the group is planning to partner with a local charity walk to get students involved in the event, she said.

At Bowdoin College in Brunswick, dining services director Mary Kennedy, a registered dietitian, works with a student health group to put information on the dining hall bulletin board relevant to students. The September board addresses the Freshman 15 directly.

Factors leading to the Freshman 15 include increased alcohol intake, snacking, lack of structure and decreased exercise. And some weight gain, Kennedy said, is only natural.

Is the Freshman 15 mostly a myth" Kennedy noted that in addition to the Rutgers study, a study performed by Cornell University found an average weight gain of about four pounds.

Whatever the actual number, however, the perception among incoming students that the Freshman 15 exists is still strong. USM senior Lindsay Flick said a couple of her fellow students stuck to an all-salad diet during their first few weeks of college.

Flick said information and programs offered through the colleges could be beneficial. But she believes responsibility for the Freshman 15 rests solely with the students.

"A lot of it is that you can't force people to eat certain things - you kind of have to figure it out for yourself," Flick said. "Without any kind of supervision, you sort of have free rein. Very few people would choose apples over pizza (in the dining halls)."

The Freshman 15 hype didn't really match reality for USM senior Jake Christie, but he says many students' eating habits suffered without parental supervision.

"It's different from going home everyday and having your parents set out a meal for you," Christie said. "Nobody went overboard. Nobody was eating ice cream five meals a day. Everybody kept their heads about it."