Dining Services is planning two walking tours through The View to educate students on how to make healthy eating choices.

Project coordinator Angela Hasouris said the goal of the project is to inform students on how to make healthy decisions based on what’s offered at The View, as well as to get students to think about their diet.

“There’s a lot of us in this department that view our units as an extension of the classroom,” Hasouris said. “This is another opportunity to teach students about how to make good choices. Everything in moderation helps, so this is a good opportunity to help teach that to the students.”

The best way to teach that, according to Hasouris, is by guiding interested students through The View and pointing out specific tips with sessions led by St. Thomas nutritionist Jeannemarie Beiseigel.

“We have a wide variety of offerings in The View, and one of the benefits of walking through The View with (Beiseigel) is that she can help you understand that you can take a chicken breast from the grill and add it to your salad or take veggies to the pizza,” Hasouris said. “She can help people … think of other creative ideas to get their nutrients in.”

Senior Korbyn Angstman said he is considering attending one of the sessions.

“I take pride in eating healthy, so the more I learn, the better,” Angstman said. “It’s good to know your options, like the salad bar.”

Even though Angstman said he doesn’t think unhealthy eating is a problem at St. Thomas, he said the tours could be useful, especially for hungry students who eat quickly between classes.

Hasouris said Dining Services offered a similar, smaller session last fall. This year, she is hoping to catch the incoming freshmen by offering it in the first month of school, as well as by advertising it more.

“I think it comes down to just having them think about what they’re choosing,” Director of Dining Services Todd Empanger said. “Don’t eat pizza all the time. Salads are good with fresh vegetables. It’s about moderating what you choose, as well as the amount you take.”

Senior Cole Hazelbaker agreed that dietary decisions are up to the student, but he said he thinks educating more people will help them make healthy choices.

“I would say The View does a pretty good job of having healthy options,” Hazelbaker said. “In terms of having the choice to make a healthy or unhealthy option, some people might unintentionally make an unhealthy choice without understanding why.”

The purpose of educating students is not only to encourage healthy eating, but to improve the university’s image, according to Empanger.

“The perception is if we show that we’re trying to teach, and we’re also practicing that in our operations, it helps us market that part of Dining Services,” Empanger said. “We’re hoping that gives us a better view from the students and clients that come in.”

Empanger said he hopes that while these sessions might not have a large impact, this program coupled with other efforts, such as an upcoming cooking class and going trayless, will encourage healthier eating on campus.

“Our whole emphasis on any of this stuff is to be recognized as a leader in this industry and to be recognized as being proactive to the needs of our students,” Empanger said. “Time is the whole piece to the puzzle. It takes time for people to change anything.”

The half-hour sessions will be held on Sept. 11 at 4:15 p.m. and Sept. 18 at 10:30 a.m. Students can sign up on the Wellness Center website.

Simeon Lancaster can be reached at lanc4637@stthomas.edu.