Kara Miller is ETSU’s campus dietitian for the spring 2022 semester, and she has great information for students and faculty who are looking for a healthy start to their year.
Miller is available for in-depth conversations with about diet and nutrition during her monthly virtual nutrition talks. The “Lunch with the Dietitian” session discusses intuitive eating and practical applications for nutrition. The session’s next meeting will be on Feb. 2 at 1 p.m.
Miller is a state and nationally certified dietitian with an “all foods inclusive” and “food first” strategy to help students develop good nutritional habits.
“Academics are a big part of college, but there is lots of other learning to be done,” said Miller.
One of Miller’s goals is to help college students develop good eating and nutrition habits now so that they can continue those good practices throughout their lives. Miller hopes that while at college students will be able to develop important life skills such as grocery shopping, cooking and balanced meal planning.
According to Miller, one of the best ways to achieve balanced nutrition is to make sure that each meal includes a healthy amount of color, protein and carbohydrates. Having regular meal times is also a great way to maintain a healthy diet. For students with odd class schedules, preparing healthy snacks ahead of time is a good practice.
Despite winter’s typical comfort food cravings, it is important to try to add plenty of fruits and veggies to meal plates. These colorful foods can also help to boost immune systems and maintain health.
For students who may be a bit pickier when it comes to fruits and veggies, Miller suggests taking some time to think about why they don’t like a specific food and then trying to come up with a way to work around it. For example, if texture is the issue, people can try eating the vegetable raw or cooked, depending on preference. Additionally, trying fruits and veggies that mimic favorite flavors, such as sweet, sour or spicy, can help to find the right ones for you.
Miller says that an important thing to keep in mind is that even if you don’t like the taste or texture of a specific food, it is important to appreciate its benefits for your health and nutrition. Not every meal needs to be a salad, but incorporating healthier options on a regular basis has many benefits.
Miller also hosts a virtual nutrition talk for athletes called “Coffee with Coaches” that addresses hydration, performance plates, and meal and snack times. This talk will also be on Feb. 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Anyone who is unable to attend these virtual meetings can access the recordings on the “Dietitian Kara Miller”YouTube channel. This channel also provides access to recordings from past semesters, which students and faculty may benefit from as well. Each video is filled with helpful information and only takes about 30 minutes to view.
Students and faculty who have dietary questions or are interested in participating in any of Miller’s virtual events can reach her by email at Kara.Miller@sodexo.com or on Instagram at @dietitian_kara.
