Spring time, are you healthy or not?

 The sun is out and California can say goodbye (for now at least) to the colder weather because it is spring time. The time has finally come to take off your sweaters, put on your flip flops and head down to the beach to soak up some hot sun. I know that is what I will be doing. But the thought of putting on a bikini can be daunting for many students who haven’t seriously pondered their accumulating figures underneath their big sweatshirts for over three months. Are students who eat in the comforts of the dining hall and have a rec centre at their dispense starting to take advantage of these resources now that spring has hit?

 Everybody wants to look good in spring as it means that summer is around the corner and  the bikinis and shorts will see daylight again. Students who reside on campus have access to the dining hall foods and the on campus rec center and overall it appears that there is a shift in the way that students utilize these resources now that there is a weather change.

Sierra Perez a spokesperson and employee for the Residence Commons dining hall on campus said that despite the hall not altering the menu despite the apparent weather change, she has definitely noticed a change in eating habits. Specifically students are sticking more towards the salad bar and away from carbs, fats and overall unhealthy foods. “It is very apparent that dorming students change their eating habits opting for less chicken nuggets and there are many more students coming in, with their gym clothes,” Perez said.



Official logo of Dining Hall Services at CSULB.

 Despite this some dorming residence are still skeptical about the offered food choice that the dining hall caters for. Hanna Villa, International House resident wishes there was healthier foods in the main bars essentially because the current menu resembles an unhealthy and oily school cafeteria menu. “There’s a lot of salad but I wish they would have more tempting foods in the main meal because health is very important to me especially now. I like to look healthy and hot,” she said. Effectively, Villa is also very body conscious and utilizes the rec center to her advantage, “I exercise a lot, if I don’t go to the rec center I will run around, do a P90X routine at home because sometimes the gym is too far to walk to from the dorms.”  

On the opposite end of the spectrum some students are not as phased by their external image specifically because of the weather change. Residence Commons and rec center employee, Ben Lefebvre says, “I would like to be healthy but I’m not overtly worried about my image. I do however work out about four days a week.” Similarly residence commons, building E dormer, Jake Little said he was also not fussed about what he consumes citing “taste over healthiness” as a more important feature.

 

Above: CSULB students enjoying a meal at

the on -campus dining hall lcoated in between

Residence and Los Cerritos and

Los Almitos buildings. Photo
courtesy of CSULB. edu, photographer unknown.

 I know I for one am not someone fussed over what I consume but the rec centre has such an amazing atmosphere and high-tech resources that working out for four days a week is a pleasure not a pain. The Residence Commons dining hall food although tries its best could improve its menu selection opting to follow a more diverse pathway like the Residential Learning College dining hall. Whether you like it or not spring is here and it's here to stay for three more months.