A great tasting meal doesn't need to be loaded with sugar and salt; a lesson Dr. Patrick Gelinas, an associate professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina Aiken, is teaching students in his exercise sports science course.
As part of the course, each student is asked to cook their own unique healthy meal to share with the class and provide an explanation of the dish's nutritional value. "It's a fun and interactive way to learn about the importance of what we put in our bodies," Gelinas said.
When the class met on Dec. 5, students brought in a range of different food options such as broccoli salad, sweet potatoes made with avocado oil, carrots, meatballs, carrot cake energy balls, chicken shish kebabs, and fruit smoothies.
Senior Vonita Jones made a fruit juicer blended with pineapples, mangoes, and blueberries. "I feel like courses like this, we take for granted," Jones said. "Sometimes we really don't understand the things we put in our bodies or how the number of calories we intake can make a big difference."
As the students went around the room explaining what they made, Gelinas complimented their creativity and hard work. One dish that piqued interest was the carrot cake energy balls made with unsweet coconut.
Gelinas's course is offered to juniors and seniors in-person every fall semester and virtually in the spring.
For more information, contact Angela Saxon, Angela.saxon@usca.edu