What types of recycled materials does Concordia utilize?
Within the last year Concordia College Dining Services has made several steps towards becoming a sustainable facility. When the new campus center was being designed extensive research was conducted to choose the most environmentally friendly items to use. The following is a highlighted list of the things that Dining Services is doing to help reduce Concordia’s carbon foot print:
- Test run of a trayless system. Dining Services found that going trayless is successful in reducing food waste and usage of other resources. However, they would like the initiative to be student run.
- Cutlery, glasses, bowls, plates, and to go containers in The Maize are made from an organization called BioCorp. BioCorp produces food service supplies that are made from several different biodegradable materials. The supplies that we use are made from sugarcane. When sugarcane is harvested, much of the stock is left standing. The remaining portion of the stock is used to produce many of the products we use the in The Maize.
- Napkins that Anderson, The Maize, and the Coffee Stop user are 90% recycled material, 30% post-consumer, and no chlorine bleach used in the manufacturing process.
- The Dish machine recycles water throughout the machine and lastly into the “river” that takes food into the garbage disposal.
- Anderson, The Maize, Coffee Stop, and the Korn Krib all recycle cardboard, tin, and plastic.
- Biodegradable degreaser and glass cleaner chemicals.
- Recycling kitchen grease into biofuel. Grease is donated to Lynn Brakke’s organic ranch to use for biofuel.
For more information, go to www.cord.edu and search DS sustainability.
Amanda Beadell, Dietetic Intern
References: http://www.biocorpaavc.com/about/, Accessed September 30, 2008. http://www.cord.edu/Studentlife/Housinganddining/Diningservices/Moreaboutds/Sustainability.php, Accessed September 30, 2008
Can we get soy yogurt for the lactose intolerant please?
Actually, most people who are lactose intolerance can eat yogurt without a problem. The yogurt products that are in Dining Services contain active live cultures that are considered “friendly” bacteria and can help digest lactose. Even if you are lactose intolerant, you may be able to handle smaller portions of your favorite dairy products. It also may help to eat a food that does not contain lactose along with a product that does contain lactose. An example would be a bagel with cream cheese. Another option available in Dining Services is Probiotic Milk with live cultures, which is available upon request for those who are lactose intolerant.
Myth: You will always get symptoms after eating foods with lactose if your body has low levels of lactase.
Fact: Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and some dairy products. In order to break down lactose, your body makes an enzyme called lactase. Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine does not make enough lactase. Many people with a low lactase level don’t even know it. That’s because people with low lactase levels can still digest some lactose and will only develop symptoms when they eat more lactose than their enzyme level can handle.
Some additional tips for lactose tolerant individuals include:
-Look for lactose-reduced, lactose free milk, or probiotic milk
-Some lactose intolerant individuals find that chocolate milk is easier to digest than white milk.
-Make sure you still get enough calcium from foods like cheese, lactose-free milk, and juices or soy milk that have added calcium.
-Keep food records to remember the foods which caused discomfort and the foods that caused no problems.
Tiffany Dexter, Dietetic Intern
Resources:
National Dairy Council
Going Trayless
This is from the ADA Daily News. Check out how other schools, including the University of Maine, are going trayless and how it is affecting their campus and overall health.
Ingrid Jorud ‘09
Survery: Allergy Intelligence
They can strike anyone. Not even your mommy can protect you from….. Food Allergies!!!!
Most likely, you have a friend or relative how has a food allergy, but what do you actually know about them?
Click here to take the Food Allergy Intelligence Survey!! (more…)
Yogurt: Making Your Next Meal Unique
Yogurt is a versatile food that can make a great side dish for your next meal in Anderson Commons. Whether it is for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, here are some easy ways yogurt can make your next meal unique.
Ask the Chef/RD Question
Have a question for the Chef or registered dietitian. Post your question here and check back for the answer!