In efforts to educate students about the benefits and importance of a healthy meal, all the while staying within their personal budget, Associated Students of Glendale Community College hosted their third “Eat Right on a Tight Budget” event on Sept. 18 in Plaza Vaquero. Hosting events like these has been a common goal of ASGCC, as the main focus of the organization is centered around increasing student involvement as well as promote the physical and mental health of students on the campus. Many of these events take place during the college hour, a time when most students are going in between classes and have the ability to partake in campus activities. 

It’s fairly obvious that students are too busy to cook on a daily basis as they are occupied with school, work, and personal everyday duties. This leads to students often picking the faster, cheaper, and less healthier meal option, with the impression that it will not have a lasting impact on their bodies.

ASGCC made in-house sandwiches, all which consisted of carefully selected ingredients and combined to make something that is portable, quick and easy, and, of course, healthy. The sandwiches ranged from chicken, turkey, and ham, to vegan wraps to serve a full range of dietary needs. ASGCC offered fruit cups alongside the main course, emphasizing the need for students to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets. They also offered water as the drinks, sticking to the basics and straying away from any drinks with sugar or any additives that may pose harm to the body.

Many students were gathered for this event, excited to try out these recipes. “I think events like these are a great way to bring students together,” said Emine Gholian, psychology student, as she enjoyed her sandwich during the event.

ASGCC has hosted many events with the focus being on students’ health, such as their semi-annual “Puppy Day,” where students are given the opportunity to play with puppies during what many students like to call ‘dead week,’ also known as finals week. The purpose of the event is to help students relieve stress from final exams and assignments, which usually take toll on the students’ mental health. The University of California, Los Angeles’s People-Animal Connection program has shown scientific evidence of physical and mental benefits of what is known as “Animal Assisted Therapy” with the common animal being dogs.   

Overall, ASGCC student leaders indicated that they plan on continuing to offer events oriented toward overall student health and wellness. For more information, visit glendale.edu/as.