VCU news

By Megan Schmidt

Freshmen aren’t the only ones worried about an extra 15 pounds here or there, which is why the Wellness Resource Center and the Office of Sustainability are teaming up with other departments and organizations on campus to host VCU’s first Food Day celebration the week of Oct. 24.

Food Day is a nationwide celebration and movement toward making healthy, affordable and sustainable food available in communities.

“Think of it as an Earth Day for food,” said Katherine Vatalaro, assistant director at the Wellness Resource Center.

The week begins on Monday, Oct. 22, with a panel discussion on “Food Justice in Our Community” in ASPiRE Classroom A, 835 W. Grace St., at 7 p.m. Members of the VCU community are encouraged to attend and learn about efforts being made to improve access to healthy food in Richmond.

On Oct. 23, the Byrd House Market, 224 S. Cherry St., hosts a food-focused farmers market, which will feature 25 to 30 growers and makers providing fresh, local and sustainably produced food, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Students with ID can purchase produce boxes for $10. At 7:30 p.m., Byrd House will screen the documentary “Ingredients.” The film focuses on the challenges of America’s current industrial food system and discusses ways to reinvent how the nation eats.

Wednesday, Oct. 24, marks the official national celebration of Food Day. Aramark services is partnering with VCU to throw a Plant Party highlighting healthy local produce and meats for lunch at Jonah’s Dining Center, from noon to 2 p.m., and during dinner at Shafer Dining Center from  4 to 6 p.m. Additionally, a screening and discussion of the film “Fresh” at 7:30 p.m. in the Commons Theater is open to the public.

This year marks the second annual national celebration of Food Day, created by the nonprofit organization Center for Science in the Public Interest. The event was established to address national food issues such as health and nutrition, hunger, sustainable agricultural policy, animal welfare and farm worker justice. The ultimate goal of Food Day is to strengthen and unify the food movement in order to improve America’s food policies.

Organizers of VCU’s Food Day aim to educate students on the benefits of making healthy food choices every day as well as promoting the importance of buying local produce and meats. The contemporary American diet of cheap, salty, overly processed packaged foods and high-calorie sugary drinks contributes to several hundred thousand premature deaths from heart attack, stroke, diabetes and cancer each year.

Food Day is sponsored by The Well, VCUGoes Green, Green Unity, ASPiRE, Dining Services, School of Social Work, Division of Student Affairs, Slow Food RVA and Pasture Restaurant.

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