ENHP Associate Dean Offers Quick Tips for Nutrition
Natalie Webb, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of ENHP, is also a licensed, registered dietician nutritionist. Natalie joined UHart in September with more than two decades of higher education experience, most recently in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area. She is excited that her new position at UHart allows her to move back to her hometown of Mystic, CT.
Natalie has also worked as a consultant with the food and beverage industries, professional sports teams, health clubs, and major medical centers. Knowing her background, we asked her to share a few tips and reminders for students (and others) about proper nutrition:
Q: Can you offer some advice to students about getting good nutrition at school and avoiding the "freshman 15" weight gain?
A: Yes, absolutely!
- Eat breakfast - Have your biggest meal at the beginning of the day. Taper your meal size as the day goes on to enable you to burn more calories during the more active part of your day.
- Focus on whole foods – Whole-grain, fresh fruits and veggies, and low-fat dairy products.
- Drink water - Avoid drinking sugary beverages such as soft drinks, punches, and energy drinks, as the calories can add up quickly.
- Eat often, ideally every three to four hours. This will prevent you from becoming too hungry and overeating. Include lean protein at every meal and snack (e.g., lean meat, nuts, Greek yogurt, eggs, cheese).
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Exercise is just as important as nutrition. Establishing a regular workout routine helps you maintain a healthy weight, cope with stress, and manage classes.
- I also recommend the MyPlate app to help you get started with setting food goals and tracking your progress.
Q: Speaking of food, what’s your favorite meal? (And it doesn’t have to be 100% healthy.)
A: I like most foods, but seafood is my favorite. Nothing like fried clams and clam “chowda”!