For many, the days revolve around the meals and snacks they consume. In an era of advanced food engineering, diet fads and social media, how people navigate this essential part of life has significantly transformed. This is especially true for college students who, for most, are having to rely on themselves to cook and purchase their own meals for the first time. While some can call home to ask their family members for support, student at Colgate University are also lucky to have an in-house Colgate staff member that can provide support for anyone on campus whether they are an underclassmen eating up the hill or an upperclassmen navigating cooking for the first time. Allison Bowers joined Colgate’s staff in July 2021 as a dietician who can provide medical nutrition therapy. She works with both Chartwells, Colgate’s Dining Services as well as the Shaw Wellness Institute to provide support to students.
In her day-to-day life, Bowers assists a countless number of students with a wide range of food-related questions or concerns.
“The main reasons students come to me are gastrointestinal issues, food allergy management, navigating on-campus dining and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and certain genetic disorders,” Bowers said.
Especially on a campus like Colgate’s, this guidance can be integral to students who need support in trying to navigate diet restrictions in the dining halls. Furthermore, she has successfully created an accepting environment where students can feel comfortable sharing personal information about their eating habits.
“[I] often hear a lot of guilt amongst students when they tell me what they eat, so it is often my role to help them dig deeper to find out where those feelings are coming from,” Bowers said.
Alongside her support of the larger student body, Bowers works closely with each athletic team to review hydration, fueling strategies for practices and competitions and overall nutritional support. With the intense demands of Division I athletics, athletes often need extra guidance to properly care for their bodies and sustain peak performance. One of her biggest tasks is dispelling common dietary misconceptions.
“Carbohydrates have been so vilified over the years,” Bowers said. “But they are the body’s most efficient fuel source, and athletes need a carb-rich diet to succeed in any physical activity.”
By addressing athletes’ concerns and offering insights on aspects they may never have considered before, Bowers helps athletes perform at their best both on and off the field.
In addition to her consultations, Allison created “Foodie Friday” videos that showcase different dining hall hacks, helping students make the most of their meal options. These videos offer tips on how to customize meals to suit dietary needs or simply add variety, encouraging students to get creative with what’s available on campus. Initiatives such as these show her clear passion and motivation to reach students and engage them with their nutritional health. She expressed that her favorite dining hall “hack” is Southwest Dip.
“I take all the beans from the salad bar, combine them with the seasoned corn over by La Mesa, add salsa and plain Greek yogurt and use it as a dip for corn chips,” Bowers said.
Next time you swipe into Frank, be sure to check out her videos or follow her recipe for a delicious and easy snackable dip!
