On Tuesday, Event Management, Dining and Hospitality, Health Promotion and Wellness and other wellness organizations hosted “Nutri-Fest,” an annual event promoting healthy eating.

The event allowed attendees to explore different ways of healthy eating by trying different foods and learning about healthy lifestyles from the vendors.

Nutrition and Wellbeing Programs Graduate Assistant Gabrielle Gay helped execute the event, and she believed that the vendors allowed participants to think about food differently.

“It is super important to allow students to have exposure to more sustainable and healthy options that are in the area. I think ISU students, in general, have a hard time understanding what sustainable practice even is,” Gay said. 

“A lot of this is really great exposure for students to allow them to see the school’s great food pantry, for example, as an incredible option for them. It is sustainable and cheap,” Gay continued.

Also among the vendors was the Office of Sustainability to showcase how healthy eating can be environmentally friendly, as Office of Sustainability Graduate Assistant Ryleigh Hickman promoted veganism. 

“Foods that are vegan often have a much less significant environmental impact compared to the meat industry, which often uses a lot of water and a lot of land, and you cannot get rid of that problem. So, eating vegan is actually better for the [planet],” Hickman said.  

Julia N. Visor Center Program Support Specialist Ana Lisa Eberline attended the event and thought that healthy eating is more than just the food itself. 

“I think knowing where your food comes from is [such] a big part of it,” Eberline said. 

Julia N. Visor Center Program Support Specialist Colleen Ayars also attended the event and said that while the event promotes healthy eating, it also encourages general wellness.

“They have these lovely walking maps that highlight different routes on campus and the lengths. And so we have been doing that this year. For instance, around the quad is a half-mile,” Ayars said.

For Ayars, the walking map is a quick way to get exercise, which further promotes a healthy lifestyle. 

Gay was happy about the turnout and hoped attendees got something out of the event.   

“All I wanted was to watch the event come to life and see students walking out with plates of food and little pamphlets on healthy eating, sustainable practices and living an active lifestyle,” Gay said.