Donelan Presents at NACUFS Midwest Regional Conference

Dietitian highlights efforts to educate on-campus students about nutrition and healthy lifestyles

Valerie Donelan, registered dietitian and assistant manager at Housing and Dining Services’ Derby Dining Center, co-presented a session on educating college students about nutrition at the recent National Association of College and University Food Services Midwest Regional Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Donelan joined dietitians from several other regional universities to highlight the various ways in which the audience can provide learning opportunities at their institutions. K-State Dining Services’ Nutrition Committee works throughout the academic year to help students stay focused on their health.

Campaigns at K-State include:

  • Healthy Willie Fair: Information about nutrition and available campus resources is distributed at each of our three dining centers. The fair is a collaboration with Lafene Health Center to promote healthy lifestyle choices.
  • National Nutrition Month: Derby Dining Center partners with students from the Hospitality Management and Dietetics program to show students how to fill a healthy plate in the dining center and make wise beverage choices.
  • Nutrition Around the Clock: This yearlong program highlights different topics each month, including hydration, healthful snacking, balancing calorie intake and exercise and more.
  • Nutrition Now Video Series : Each month, a K-State dietitian features a health-related topic in a YouTube video.

Social media posts, table tents and in-person instruction were all utilized to deliver the messages.