CCU welcomes new dietician

Through CCU’s partnership with Aramark, they have hired a new dietitian to help promote a healthier campus.

Molly Ford is a recent graduate of Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she studied in the Dietetic Internship program.

“I spend a majority of my time planning nutrition education events on campus, meeting with students for one-on-one nutrition counseling and creating class or group presentations about healthy eating on campus” Ford said.

Ford is also working with the University and Aramark to improve the health of the students by promoting vegan and vegetarian foods. Both CCU and Aramark’s initiatives a line, and Aramark is working on an initiative called Healthy for Life 20 by 20.

The initiative will be combining the industry’s leading menu commitments with educational programs as well as raising awareness in hopes of improving the health of Americans 20 percent by 2020.

In order to gain this at the University, Ford is working to improve the menu with healthier options and is planning to reduce 20 percent of the calories, saturated fat, and sodium levels in the food while increasing 20 percent in fruits, vegetables and whole grain options, all by 2020.

Some of her first acts have been making menu icons at Hick’s, UP Café and Chauncey’s Choice that state if the option is vegetarian, vegan or contains nuts.

"It is important to make time in your busy schedule for balanced meals throughout the day," said Ford. "Start your day off with a breakfast of complex carbohydrates, lean protein, fiber and healthy fats to keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout the day.”

The overall campus initiative is to increase more plant-forward, vegan and vegetarian entrée options. The CCU Food Crew has been taking to campus to highlight certain entrees for students who are unsure if they would like them to sample.

Soon they will be starting their Healthy Holiday program which will run until the end of the semester. Follow them on social media, @CCUFoodCrew to learn more.