Wondering what foods might improve your performance at the game? Looking for ways to eat healthier on a budget in your off-campus apartment? Have a dietary restriction that you could use some advice on?
Get in touch with Sarah Yandow. She’s the new campus dietitian available through Chartwells, which operates the Robison Dining Hall.
Her role is to help students navigate through the maze of food choices, on or off-campus. She is available both to students with dietary restrictions and the athlete who wants to time their snacks and meals for optimal performance on the field. All ACPHS students may consult with her, no matter where they live or whether they have a meal plan.
She is also able to advise Chartwells on changes that students may be looking for in food service operation.
“Because I work for Chartwells, I can provide feedback to the team,” Yandow said.
Chartwells brought a dietitian in several years ago – but she was on campus just once before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, changing the food service operation altogether. Now the company is reinstating the service, as students increasingly come to campus with food allergies (one current student, for instance, cannot eat eggs) and dietary preferences such as eating vegan.
“We want our students to have the opportunity to talk about food and nutrition in the ways that are important to them,” said Alisa Mathis-Peterson, who directs ACPHS’ dining services.
David Martin, a junior studying pharmaceutical sciences who is also a student athlete, stopped to speak with Yandow Thursday, when she was stationed at a table in the dining hall.
“I thought she was terrific!” Martin stated. “I'm always concerned about the fuel I'm giving my body. Especially as a cross-country runner, I need to make sure I'm eating enough of the right stuff to maintain my weight, ions, energy, etc., so it was very comforting to speak with Sarah and learn more about what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong."
Sophomore Gagandeep Kaur also spoke with Yandow Thursday, saying she was interested in staying healthy after gaining weight when she first came to college. Ty Rheaume, in his fourth year in the Pharm.D. program, also has worked to take weight off in the last couple of years and said that he is likely to take advantage of Yandow’s expertise now that he is buying food for his own apartment.
Yandow is based in Plattsburgh and will be available for in-person consultations in Albany periodically. She is always available to ACPHS students by email at Sarah.Yandow@compass-usa.com.