Healthy Illini: Prioritizing Nutritional Health at the Chez Veterans Center!

On October 2, the McKinley Nutrition Education Program was invited to the Chez Veterans Center. One of our Work Study students, Emily Watson, hosted this fun and informative activity. The McKinley Educators presented about the importance of healthy eating habits. They emphasized that the key part of nutrition, especially as a college student, is focusing on getting a serving of fruits, protein, vegetables, grains, and dairy at least once a day. In addition to their helpful presentation, the Nutrition Education Program cooked an amazing tofu stir fry, and Chez Veterans Center students were able to watch how to cook this recipe step by step. This reinforced the idea that delicious food is simpler to make than people think!

The image shows three women standing in a kitchen, engaged in a cooking activity.

On the left, one woman, wearing a black top, appears to be watching the others attentively.
In the middle, another woman, with her hair tied back and wearing a beige T-shirt, is smiling while holding a kitchen utensil or bowl.
On the right, the third woman, wearing a white top, is pouring what appears to be oil or a liquid ingredient into a cooking pot on the stovetop.
Various cooking ingredients, bowls, and kitchen utensils are placed neatly on the counter in front of them, suggesting they are preparing a meal or participating in a cooking class. Behind them is a modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, a countertop, and some appliances.

The McKinley Nutrition Educators also informed students that they can meet with a Registered dietitian at the McKinley Health Center whenever they need to. Appointments are completely covered by tuition, and if they are concerned about their nutritional health, or just need someone to talk to, they encourage everyone to make an appointment! To schedule one, you can call McKinley Health Education at 217-333-2700.

Article written by: Baileigh Hannah