By Sarah Wilder

College students often struggle to eat right because of large portions and an unbalanced diet, a UK dietitian said.

March is National Nutrition Month, and Jill Kindy, a dietitian with University Health Service, said that most college students neglect fruits and vegetables. She also said that most students get in trouble with portion sizes.

“I have seen many students who eat healthfully, but their portions are too large and they struggle with losing weight,” Kindy said.

Another problem about eating on campus is late night snacks. Kindy said that most students eat large meals around 5 or 6 p.m., and then end up getting hungry and eating again later that night.

But these aren’t the only problems facing college students. Eating disorders are also at a rise among college students. The National Eating Disorders Association reports that 80 percent of all eating disorders begin while in college, and that 10 percent of college females struggle with some form of an eating disorder.

“Most everyone knows of somebody, in the residence hall, in the sorority house, et cetera … that is struggling with eating issues,” Kindy said. “About one-third of the patients that I see have eating disorders.”

Some students also turn to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle to help keep healthy. choosing to replace meat with soy products and nuts.

Kindy said that most students do the vegan or vegetarian lifestyle the correct way, but some don’t replace the meats with other proteins, and as a result their bodies suffer.

“Vegetarians and vegans need to be very conscious of making the right dietary choices to ensure that they are getting all their vitamins and minerals,” Kindy said.

To learn about healthy eating, call the University Health Service appointment line at (859) 323-2778 to schedule an individual consultation. There are also counselors available to discuss eating disorders.