By Jessica Booth

Besides homework and sleep, there is something else that seems to always be on every college student’s mind-keeping up a healthy diet and trying to avoid the “Freshmen 15.” Nutrition is an important part of every student’s life, and now there is a new club at Hofstra dedicated to just that-the Nutrition Club.

Michelle Blum, a junior exercise physiology major, formed the Nutrition Club at the end of last semester. Blum first came up with the idea in the fall then started the club in December. She saw that between all of the clubs and activities at the University, there was a need for something that dealt with nutrition, and she decided to take action.

“Unfortunately, there’s really no outlet for nutrition at Hofstra, so I thought starting a club would kind of fill that void,” says Blum. She noticed that the healthy food in the cafeteria was far more expensive than the unhealthy choices and that there were far less healthy options for meals. With the help of her friend, junior biology major Orli Roth, they put together the Nutrition Club.

Blum, who is a nutrition specialist at two different gyms, says that nutrition is her passion. She has high hopes for the club and plans on working with Lackmann Food Services so that she can get more affordable, healthy dining options for students.

“It’s a lot easier for kids to get a hamburger and fries because they are so much cheaper than buying something like [a salad and] an apple,” says Blum.

The members of the club plan on volunteering at an elementary school in Hempstead and teaching the students there about nutrition facts. Blum says, “Starting community relationships is one of the first things we want to do.”

The club meets next on Thursday, February 26, in the back of the Student Center. It will include a healthy cocktail hour, and any student interested in nutrition is welcome to join.