HEALTHY EATER

Senior Utam Moses was not always a healthy eater. When she was growing up, her family had quite a sweet tooth.

“We always had soft drinks, snacks and sweets around in abundance,” she said. “We ate a lot of fast food, and my mom microwaved everything, including the Thanksgiving turkey.”

It was not until high school, when she made the decision to become a vegetarian and started cooking her own meals, that she became mindful about her eating habits. Now eating organically and holistically is a priority. 

Though she was a vegetarian for eight years, Utam recently started eating meat again. When she consulted a traditional Chinese doctor, she was enlightened about the importance meat plays in supporting joints and tendons, an important aspect for someone majoring in contemporary dance.

“I think it is hard being a vegetarian and being very physically active and busy,” Utam said.

When she does eat meat, however, Utam makes it her main concern that the animals were raised naturally.

“All of the hormones and antibiotics they put in meat can be transferred to our bodies,” she said. “You are what you eat.”

For someone who would like to become a healthier eater, but may not know where to begin, Utam has some advice: Invest in a juicing machine to add more fruits and vegetables to a diet. In fact, her favorite recipe is a combination of apples, kale, lemon and carrots.

Above all, she recommends to “start with easy things. Drink more juice. Eat more salad, and don’t be extremist about it. It is all about balance.”