FIU joins Healthy Campus Initiative, events with celebrity trainer to mark kick-off

College is often the first time young adults get to decide what to eat, how often to exercise and learn how to take care of themselves. But making healthy choices can also be viewed as time consuming and inconvenient.

To make healthy choices easier for students, FIU – along with 19 other college and university campuses across the nation – teamed up with Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) for the Healthier Campus Initiative. The initiative aims to make campuses healthier providing healthier food and beverage service on campus, encouraging physical activity through facilities and programs, and implementing an integrated, comprehensive wellness program for individuals on campus. These changes encourage healthier options among the more than 60,000 students, faculty and staff.

“Little things like drinking more water and walking for 20 to 30 minutes a day can make a big difference in someone’s health,” said Oscar Loynaz, MD, director of Student Health Services. “We hope that the initiative will bring to light the many ways that FIU strives to be a healthy campus – things like our nature preserve walking path, the calorie counter from Panther Dining, our on-campus nutritionist. We want to move being healthy from something you think about to something you practice, in an easy and convenient way, at FIU, everyday.”

To kickoff the Healthier Campus Initiative with PHA, Wellness and Recreation Center’s along with Student Health Centers, Campus Life, Healthy Living, and FIU Workplace Wellness Initiative have teamed up for Health, Wellness and Recreation Week, taking place Sept. 16 – 23. Throughout the week, there will be fitness demonstrations, recreation expos, giveaways and tabling from a wide range of clubs, programs and services offered on campus.

Read: Free group fitness classes at MMC

Photo courtesy of photos.shauntfitness.com.

Highlights of the events include: Sweat ‘till You’re Wet pool party; Zumba Takeover; and the Wellness and Recreation Center 10th Anniversary Celebration with guest speaker Shaun T, developer of the Insanity® workout. Shaun will also teach a group exercise class from 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. at the Wellness and Recreation Center at MMC.

For a full list of events for Health, Wellness and Recreation Week, visit go.fiu.edu/HealthyWeek. For more information about the Healthier Campus Initiative, click here.

Read: Top 10 ways to get fit on campus