Stony Brook University Celebrates Food Day to Promote Healthy Food, Wellness and Sustainability

Food Day raises awareness of health and environmental issues for improved lifestyles

STONY BROOK, NY, October 19, 2015 — Campus Dining and the Faculty Student Association have partnered with the Office of Sustainability to host Food Day at Stony Brook University (SBU) on October 21st from 12:30pm-2:30pm at the SAC Plaza. Food Day is a national event that began in 2011 that celebrates healthy eating, promotes sustainable practices as well as agricultural welfare.

"We work hard every day to bring healthy food to our students, but Food Day is a great event to partner with other groups on campus to bring a fun, interactive and educational program to the campus community," stated Stephanie May, Campus Dining dietitian.

As part of Food Day, health and wellness and environmental groups such as Healthier U, Student Voice on Campus Dining, Amagansett Food Institute, Office of Sustainability, the SBU Food Pantry, Campus Recreation, Freight Farms, the Environmental Club and Campus Dining dietitian Stephanie May will be educating the campus community on how to resolve to make changes in their own diets and lead healthier lifestyles

In addition, students can take part in the Office of Sustainability’s “Big Apple Crunch”, where participants can take a bite out of a New York apple and post selfies to SBU Eats social media pages using the hashtag #SBUAppleCrunch for a chance to win 25 dining points to their meal plan. This “Big Apple Crunch” activity aims to promote healthy eating while also celebrating the state’s apple industry.

To celebrate the first harvest of SBU’s Leafy Green Machine, a discarded shipping container converted into a fully operational hydroponic farm, David Schmitz, Campus Dining Manager and Freight Farm students Chad Marvin and Kylie Campanelli will be discussing how they grow crops year-round in an indoor environment as well as how students can be more sustainable in their own lives.

“The advantage to hosting a Food Day event is the ability to showcase all of the sustainable initiatives on campus, including transportation and the new campus Freight Farm,” said James O’Connor, Director of the Office of Sustainability.

SBU’s Food Day will also include a Farmers’ Market where the campus community can purchase fresh produce. The first 100 students to shop at the Farmer’s Market will receive a Campus Dining reusable tote bag.

To learn more about the national Food Day program, visit foodday.org. For more information on sustainable initiatives on campus, visit the Office of Sustainability website at stonybrook.edu/sustainability or the Campus Dining website at stonybrook.edu/dining.