For many college students, food choices are shaped by busy schedules, tight budgets and confusing online advice. This is why The Well is piloting a nutrition program service which aims to change that, one student at a time.

Christina R. Hammans, Wellness Center program director, explains that while The Well offers various wellness programs, this is the first semester that a program centering around nutritional choices and their direct impact on physical and emotional wellness is being offered.“To fill that gap, we collaborated with the Department of Nutrition and Food Science to leverage the expertise of their faculty and student cohort to bring personalized nutrition services to The Well,” Hammans said.

The program is based on a pillar of SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) Eight Dimensions of Wellness, which is the foundation of The Well’s programming. The eight dimensions are physical, emotional, social, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational and spiritual. Personalized nutrition services support all eight dimensions of the wellness model.

“Emotional wellness by reducing stress or guilt around food, physical wellness through proper fueling, and supporting intellectual wellness by providing clear, evidence-based information,” Hammans said.

This is the first semester that one-on-one counseling sessions with dietetic interns are being held, which is also personally benefiting Chico State’s interns. The interns are gaining hands-on counseling experience and building a professional skill set in communication, direct student interaction, application of academic knowledge in a real-world setting and greater confidence by working with a diverse student body. 

Hammans said sessions are individualized and tailored to students with different needs, including their lifestyle, schedule, goals and cultural backgrounds. Students are encouraged to come to these counseling sessions with goals, questions and the openness to share their challenges. Common goals include improving energy and focus, supporting fitness, managing stress-related eating and learning the basics of cooking and meal-prepping on a budget.

The Well hopes that supporting students in meeting their goals s will help develop the skills and knowledge needed for healthy decision-making long after graduation.

“Many students are genuinely trying to make healthy food choices but face real barriers,” Hammans said. “Our role is to help simplify that information and provide practical, realistic strategies that fit into a student’s everyday life.” She added that all students, regardless of meal plans, are encouraged to take advantage of this newly offered service.

Plans for the program moving forward include officially welcoming a dietitian intern onto staff next semester and continuing to strengthen and grow the program. Since this is a pilot program, The Well will assess community feedback and identify trends to ensure the service remains accessible and relevant for students. 

Personalized nutrition services are offered at The Well at the BMU on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the semester from 8-11:30 a.m. Appointments can be made through the WREC app, on The Well website, by phone at (530)898-4141, or in person. 

Lucy Bakowski can be reached at [email protected]