BSU Marks Food Day USA with Top Chefs

 By Jocelyn Jones            

Bowie State University was among several colleges and community leaders who gathered to mark Food Day USA on Oct. 24 in an effort to raise awareness about eating healthier foods.            

Chefs Joshua Fisher and Xavier Myles offered a helpful guide to eating healthy organic foods during a cooking demonstration before a studio audience at BSU-TV.             

The purpose of food day is to promote safe and healthy foods; support farms; limit funding to big agricultural businesses; expand access to food; assuage hunger; protect animals and the environment; promote healthy foods so that children won’t depend on junk food, promote reasonable working conditions for farm workers.

It is best to eat organic foods because they are locally grown and fresher, the darker the leaf the better because they have more nutrients and vitamins. Many organic foods are very colorful and they have no pesticides.“

Look for color and brightness and the firmness and make sure there is no bruising,” Fisher said.

It is best to check fruit in order to get the freshest product available. Organic foods are costly, but it is about promoting good health and flavor. When shoppers by food from a local farmer’s market nine times out of 10 the food is freshly grown whereas food in national grocery chain stores are often frozen and stored.“

We have to have this on a very regular basis,” said Dr. George Acquaah, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “You can go to College Park and not experience this, so again, events like this will add value to students than classroom experiences. Students can relate the classroom to what they hear from the professors. This is just the just the beginning and we will really try to do this on a regular basis.”

In order to stay healthy it is best to drink more water and stay away from too many fried foods, canned foods and refined sugar, organizers said. If fructose corn syrup is among the ingredients listed on a food label it is best to limit intake. Many products are sprayed with pesticides and chemicals.

“When you eat organic foods you want to taste the product and taste the freshness,” Myles said. Any time consumers see oversized chicken breast or wings the meat likely has been injected with hormones to make them grow faster, organizers said.

Dr. George Ude, associate professor natural science department, said “It is a great experience for Bowie State University and our students. Students need exposure and we need to expose them to the world and get them to see the real world outside the classroom.”

If you would like to gain weight the healthy way there are protein shakes and nutritionists are willing to help clients reach their goals, organizers said. 

It is best to eat whole wheat and multigrain pasta and switch to using white pepper instead of black pepper because it is healthier, organizers recommended. Instead of frying, bake food and avoid overcooking food to avoid a loss of fiber.  “

The programs were just so wonderful and the speakers were awesome,” said Dr. Anne Osano, associate professor in the Department of Natural Sciences.

Dr. Patricia Ramsey, interim chairwoman of the Department of Natural Sciences, agreed. “It actually turned very good being our first one, I was really excited about the students. They participated [and] asked questions. We had excellent scientists to come in and share with us. So, it was just a great day overall.”