If you are looking to avoid the freshmen fifteen, or simply want a healthier lifestyle, Plymouth State University has got you covered. The Healthy Living Summit will be a presentation on healthy eating, exercising, and other fun ways to stay in shape on campus. It will take place in the new Merrill Place Conference Center on October 5th, and the deadline to register is September 29th. To register, email healthypsu@ plymouth.edu.

This new event has no cost, and they will offer free lunch to those who participate. According to the PSU website, the goal is to create a healthier, happier place, where everyone is thriving and living with a purpose.

At the Summit, you will be doing group physical activities. These include learning hiking techniques, assessing your physical activity, being introduced to proper nutrition and hydration, and participating in a medical questionnaire. Also, you can connect with students that share your passion for fitness and share your vision of a heal thy campus. Events like these are important on college campuses. According to the American Health Association one out of three college students report receiving education and information regarding physical fitness and healthy eating. While embracing the freedom of making your own eating choices it is beneficial to consider the health risks of some foods. As students, you can take it upon yourselves to learn about healthy eating decisions and great ways to stay in shape.

The Healthy PSU group is nationally recognized and the dedicated staff is excited to celebrate our efforts as a student body. Their mission is to “encourage health and well-being in varied ways and thereby building healthy people in a healthy place”. Organizers of the event hope to make this a new tradition for the campus and community.

Denise Normandin, the project director for Healthy PSU and a key speaker at the event, believes in the benefits of an active lifestyle. “The participants will learn from leading experts in health and wellness”, Denise said, “They will also engage with undergraduate students from our Applied Nutrition for Healthy Living class. The student’s exhibits will showcase their research and learning from the Blue Zones. The Blue Zones are regions of the world where people live longer, and better by practicing healthy lifestyles.”

There are always resources if you cannot attend the Summit or want more information. Healthy PSU provides information on Stress Management, Nutrition, and Physical Activity on their webpage. If you are on social media, you can use #HealthyPSU on twitter and access their page.