In the interests of combating rising levels of lifestyle related illness students from the School of Human Life Sciences at the University’s northern campus recently took action in promoting ways for students to improve their health.

The promotion, running in conjunction with National Nutrition Week, had the theme of “I’m cheap and easy and good for you” and gave students information and practical ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle on a low budget.  The two hour expo utilised a wholistic approach and focused on important areas of health such as physical activity and nutrition.   Those students attending the expo were treated to healthy cooking demonstrations and offered food tastings with some ingredients raised by the student organisers from seedlings in the University’s onsite hothouse.  Attendees also witnessed displays of mobile gardens developed to show students who ‘are on the move’ how easy it is to have their own garden and take it with them as they travel around.  Other activities included interactive exercise demonstrations and ideas on how to participate in exercise without huge costs associated with equipment purchase.

“The aim of the event was to fulfil a practical component of the unit, Public, Community and Environmental Health offered by the School of Human Life Sciences which aims to give students hands on experience in developing community projects” said Lesley Harrison, Lecturer in Health Promotion at the School.