TCU’s health center is finding new ways to help keep students healthy.  Students are being offered consultations with a registered dietician at no cost.

“There were a lot of students on campus that just had questions regarding different dietary needs,  so that’s kind of how the position got started,” registered dietician Lauren Watson said.

Watson said she received many phone calls and questions from students last school year on how to keep up a healthy lifestyle with the stresses of college.  She said some students find it difficult being on their own for the first time, and not having their parents to help them make the right decisions when it comes to food.

 “A lot of students, I think come to college, especially their first year, and they don’t realize how much they miss nutritionally,” sophomore Nick German said.

The new dietician consultations have been installed to help students with this issue and others, Watson said.  Students can expect to meet one on one with Watson to discuss what their typical day is like as far as what they eat and drink.  Also, if a student has a special dietary need, such as a food allergy, she can also help with that.

“It’s good to have someone, especially a professional,” first-year student Ircilia Inacio said.

Watson said that Market Square provides plenty of healthy meal options and that it is easy to maintain healthy eating habits.  Her biggest piece of advice is to eat well-rounded, balanced meals.

“For instance, in the grain group there are some low-sugar cereals, oatmeal, good milk choices, fruits are readily available in there. At lunch and dinner time there’s always grilled chicken breasts, there’s a great salad bar in there you can do with it, fruit, things like that,” Watson said.

On average, a student’s first dietician appointment would be between 30-45 minutes, with follow-up appointments somewhere between 15-30 minutes. 

To make an appointment, email Lauren Watson at [email protected] or call 817-257-7086.