Event teaches dorm cooking tips

Published: Thursday, February 25, 2010

Updated: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Feed Your Body and Soul Week 2010 presented Going Gourmet on the Cheap with Healthy Microwave Cooking.

Jenna Pool, health educator for Student Health Services, gave students tips on how to cook meals in a dorm-style setting. Pool presented traditional recipes in a manner that is accessible to college-age students, especially those who live in the dorms.

Elizabeth Bailey, a sophomore biology major from Odessa, said she attended the presentation in hopes of finding healthy, easy recipes.

“After this presentation, I will probably have a diet that consists of more than just frozen pizza,” Bailey said. “And I am hoping that I will now cook more breakfast.”

The purpose of the event is to give students of plenty of options for versatility in nutrition.

“Nutrition shouldn’t be a punishment,” Pool said. “Students need to remember to be open minded to new things.”

Pool demonstrated to the students how to cook certain meals, including microwavable lasagna and a ham and egg omelet. Samples then were passed out to the students for a taste test. Pool also discussed the nutritional value in each of the meals prepared.

She said the point of the presentation was not to push a diet plan.

“We are trying to provide students with programs that teach healthy lifestyles,” Pool said. “We aren’t strictly focusing on weight loss.”

She said Feed Your Body and Soul week has stressed the importance of good body image for both females and males.

“Body image is a really big deal for all college students, it isn’t strictly affecting girls,” Pool said. “There are still students out there who don’t realize they have a problem, and these events, hopefully, help them realize that.”

Recipes and T-shirts were handed out to those who attended the presentation.