Sept. 01--ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS -- "Food Dude" Kevin Roberts extolled the benefits of antioxidants and fiber and warned college students about some foods to avoid: soda, sugar, processed cheese and fast-food french fries and hamburgers.
The charismatic Roberts, host of TLC's BBQ PitMasters, presented "How to Survive College by Staying Healthy" on Tuesday in O'Shaughnessy dining room at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.
He provided fun facts on healthy eating and plenty of samples. "Help yourself," he told the lunchtime crowd as he passed out everything from breakfast bagel sandwiches, to "shots" of soy milk, to dark chocolate. "Everything must go. It's a Food Dude fire sale."
What he hopes to show college students are "quick, simple, tasty, healthy recipes for young adults, college students trying to survive in our fast-food society."
Roberts, who said he is "crowding 40," learned to cook at age 8 and studied health, nutrition and kinesiology in college. "I know the body from the inside out," he said. "Every food I turn you onto has some kind of purpose."
Eating breakfast is important because "it stimulates your metabolism," he said.
He showed students some healthy breakfast options. In one, he mixed raisin bran and Kashi cereals with soy milk. Yogurt is another good food, he said.
He also gave out breakfast bagel sandwiches made of bagels, cream cheese, tomatoes and onions; and a meat such as turkey, ham or roast beef. He said it's good to eat complex carbohydrates in the morning because the body will burn it off.
"The problem is when you eat that pizza at 10 p.m. at night and then sit on your butt watching 'Family Guy,'" he said. "You have to burn the calories."
Americans need to put more fiber in their diets, he said.
"Our colons are very angry with us because of all the empty calories and starches and white breads and white flours we're consuming ... all the fast food and stuff," Roberts said. "We need to get back to basics. It's almost like going back to the farm."
America's poor eating habits are taking a toll, he said. "Team America" ranks at the top for heart disease, colon cancer and Type-2 diabetes, he said.
He gave away plenty of bottles of Frank's Red Hot Pepper Sauce and French's Mustard, items low in calories but big in flavor, he said.
Woods sophomore Gabi Hasler said she didn't realize the U.S. ranked so high for conditions such as heart disease and colon cancer. After listening to Roberts, she said she hopes to drink more water and less soda pop.
She enjoyed the Food Dude's program. "He's got a lot of charisma," she said.
Freshman Elizabeth Izaguirre said she tries to avoid food with trans fats and tries to eat foods that have antioxidants. Roberts said foods with antioxidants, including berries, grapes and dark chocolate, can prevent cancer.
Izaguirre believes many college students probably do eat a lot of junk food. While some people might eat healthier after listening to Roberts, longstanding habits are hard to change, she said.
Roberts was a top-10 finalist on "The Next Food Network Star." He's done more than 100 national and local television shows, including "The Today Show" and "CBS Early Show." He said he'll appear on the "CBS Early Show" on Saturday.
The visit was sponsored by Sodexho and the Student Activities Committee.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
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