RPS hires dietitian to cater to student needs

Packing on pounds might be on the minds of many freshmen when they go away to college. The legend of the "freshman 15" may be true for some college students, which is why Residential Programs and Services offers a registered dietitian for students who have nutritional concerns. \nRobin Lemieux is the RPS registered dietitian and an IU alumna. After graduating from IU, she did her post-graduate internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Before returning to her former home, Lemieux did consulting for three years, she said in an e-mail interview. \nLemieux believes one of the biggest obstacles students face in their food lifestyles is time. \n"A lot of students are in such a hurry that they grab anything to eat and don't think much about it," she said. "I can't stress activity level enough. IU has great intramural sports, (the Student Recreational Sports Center), (the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation), etc., for students to take advantage of."\nFreshman Jessica Wallace has already noticed a change in her eating habits after being away from home for less than a week. It isn't that she is eating more. Instead she finds she is not eating as often because her dorm is not one that offers food services. Despite eating less, her fear of gaining weight has not diminished. "I am scared to gain weight now that I am at school," Wallace said. "I am taking personal fitness, E119, through the HPER. Hopefully that helps keep some of the weight off." \nWorking out was also one of the ways sophomore Katie Peterson avoided weight-gain during her first year at IU. Peterson also found herself snacking less and watching what she ate more. Instead of gaining weight when she went away to school, she lost about 12 pounds, she said. \n"I wasn't scared to gain the freshman 15," Peterson said. "I made it a point to go to the SRSC and workout. I also made sure I watched what I ate. But I was very busy, so I didn't have as much time to eat as before."\nRPS has always had dietitians on staff working to plan menus with managers of units, said Sandra Fowler, director of RPS dinning services. This is the first year the dietitian will have office hours. \n"I think this is a service students will use," Fowler said. "Anyone that called her on or off campus, she could help. However, most off-campus students call the dietitian at the health center." \nRPS does not charge students for getting help from Lemieux. She has been working with students the past couple of weeks, helping them to find foods that work for them. Last year, Lemieux worked with about 50 to 100 students. \nLemieux is available for students during her office hours, which vary weekly because of her schedule, or by appointment. \n"It is possible to eat healthy while at college," Lemieux said. "RPS is trying to do more this year to stress the importance of good nutrition for college students."\nFor more information about nutrition, measuring food portions or ways to avoid the 'freshman 15,' visit www.rps.indiana.edu. Students can also contact Lemieux at 856-5851 or at nutrinfo@indiana.edu. \n-- Contact staff writer Maggie Bozich at mbozich@indiana.edu .