Why Healthy Food Matters: A lesson learned from my Freshman year- Joe Jardina

When people talk about the importance of healthy eating, it often sounds like generic advice: something you’ve heard a thousand times but don’t really think about until it becomes personal. For me, that moment came during my freshman year of college. Between the excitement of newfound independence, the stress of adjusting to a heavier workload, and the convenience of dining halls that served unlimited food, I didn’t pay attention to what I was putting into my body. I grabbed whatever was fast, tasty, and easy, believing that food was just fuel and nothing more. It didn’t take long for that mindset to catch up with me.

Like many freshmen, I thought I was invincible. Pizza for lunch, burgers for dinner, late-night desserts, and coffee in between. As the semester went on, I started noticing changes I couldn’t ignore. My stomach constantly hurt. I felt bloated, sluggish, and uncomfortable almost every day. Even worse, the stomach issues made it incredibly difficult to focus in class or while studying. Instead of paying attention to lectures, I was distracted by discomfort. Instead of staying alert during late-night study sessions, I felt drained. I chalked it up to stress at first, but after a couple weeks I realized it was all traceable to my diet.

What I didn’t realize at the time was how interconnected food, energy, mood, and cognitive performance actually are. Healthy food isn’t just about looking a certain way, it directly influences how well your brain functions. When you fill your body with greasy or overly processed foods, your digestive system has to work overtime. The result? Fatigue, brain fog, and irritability. By contrast, foods rich in nutrients: like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins support stable energy levels and better concentration. Looking back, it’s clear that my poor eating habits weren’t just affecting my physical health; they were interfering with my ability to succeed academically.

Freshman-year dining halls can be tricky. They’re convenient, the food is unlimited, and the healthy options often seem hidden behind rows of fries, cookies, and creamy pasta. I didn’t take the time to look for better choices, nor did I consider how much harm I was doing by eating the same heavy foods day after day. I assumed my body could handle anything. But our bodies are constantly sending us signals, and mine was practically yelling for help.

The turning point came when the discomfort got so bad that I couldn’t make it through a class without feeling sick. I finally took a step back and started paying attention to what I was eating. When I swapped out some of the fried foods for salads, grilled chicken, fruit, and other lighter options, I noticed a huge difference—my stomach felt calmer, my energy improved, and I could actually concentrate again.

What I learned is simple but meaningful: healthy eating matters, especially when you’re trying to balance school, stress, and new responsibilities. Food isn’t just fuel, it’s the foundation for how you feel, think, and how well you perform. Sometimes, it takes a freshman-year wake-up call to truly understand that. I was lucky to be able to have access to fresh foods at the dining hall but some people in East Knoxville aren't that lucky. Please help us to improve their lives and diets by donating to our campaign.