Dartmouth and diets
By Ying Cheng
Published on Tuesday, May 16, 2006
To the Editor:
Dartmouth is a decadent, carbohydrate-laden fantasy. I mean, is there really a wrong time here for Everything But Anchovies, Keystone and Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk? Certainly not when the goodies are all free, free, free. Indeed, when comfort foods are overly available in a community of over-worked perfectionists needing a gastronomic fix at 1:47 a.m., eating disorders are inevitable. In the article, "Eating disorders can exist on seemingly healthy campus," (May 12), The Dartmouth succinctly identifies social and academic competitiveness as factors that lead students (mostly female) to an abusive relationship with food. I agree. I also believe that the Dartmouth environment fuels problematic attitudes towards food.
I attended the "No Diet Day" event mentioned in The Dartmouth's piece. The health-awareness gathering promoted "healthy, balanced, non-restrictive lifestyles." During that hour or so, I was encouraged, as were the other hundred or so who showed up, to "non-restrictively" binge on ice-cream, brownies, pizza, bagels, etc. I heard a few people half-joking about how much extra time they were going to sweat on the elliptical to "burn off" that delicious brownie or pizza slice they were cramming down their gullet. Furthermore, the healthier places to eat on campus, Collis Cafe and Homeplate, have rather coy hours. The Grill at Food Court and the Courtyard Cafe -- Dartmouth's answer to Burger King and McDonald's -- however, open early and close late. Before the fantasy turns into a heart-attack, I suggest meeting students half-way by prioritizing locations with a decent salad bar and foods that don't ooze so much grease you have to soak it up with a napkin.