Food For Thought

Bowie State University & Food Lion Feeds Tackle Hunger With On-Campus Nutrition Lounge

By Kia Lisby // PHOTOS: BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY

Health is Wealth.

College is a great milestone for many but, the journey is far from easy. The independence, transition and adjustment of a college student is somewhat underrated. While progressing through college and adapting to the lifestyle, seen and unseen obstacles tend to come about. Late nights and early mornings can put a damper on how a college student may take care of themselves or even how they may take on the day, weeks, and months of a semester. An important aspect of taking care of yourself is eating properly.

A RealCollege Survey study released last year found that 45 percent of college students who participated said that they had gone hungry within the last 30 days noted the study taken at more than 100 institutions. And, within Prince George’s, many students at Bowie State University only eat one meal per day.

With the partnership of Food Lion Feeds and Capital Area Food Bank, Bowie State University opened an on-campus Nutrition Lounge Feb.17, to help tackle hunger and food insecurity on campus. The lounge is supplied with free healthy foods, fresh produce, a monitor to present nutrition education, tables and chairs, couches and microwaves and even shelves full of non-perishable items.

“This gift from Food Lion Feeds, along with the ongoing partnership of Food Lion and Capital Area Food Bank, will make an incredible difference for our Bowie State students, who sometimes struggle to afford healthy food options,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Brent Swinton.

Food Lion donated $10,000 to establish and equip Bowie State’s Nutrition Lounge. It is the sixth location Food Lion Feeds established at a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) school since 2015.

Food Lion Director of Operations in the Bowie, MD area, Jason Bullock said: “Students should be focused on learning, not where their next meal will come from. Caring for our neighbors in the towns and cities we serve is important to us, so we’re excited about this new space to help nourish the Bowie State University community.”