by Christopher Sanchez
Daily Lobo
Free food and massages were provided to students and staff on Tuesday at Smith Plaza to celebrate this year's World Food Day.
World Food Day, which is Oct. 15, was celebrated early by UNM's Student Health Center because of Fall Break, said Maya Trujillo of Peer Educators.
Trujillo said the main focus of the celebration was to inform students about nutrition.
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"Mainly, we're focusing on showing college students different ethnic groups from all over the world," she said. "But we're also throwing in a little twist, which is being nutritious when you're a student and why it's important."
Several booths were set up, including a Red Cross booth, which accepted donations for hurricane relief. Maya said the booth had nothing to do with World Food Day.
"I just figured, since we're having this event we should try and raise money for a good cause," she said, looking at a five-gallon water container partially filled with money. "I'm hoping to get it filled."
The Student Health Center also gave people free 10-minute massages.
Shellie Bailie, a massage therapist, said massages are beneficial to students with busy schedules.
"It helps reduce stress and promotes health in the body like better circulation, posture and an overall feeling of well-being," Bailie said.
There was Spanish, Greek and Asian food to make the event multicultural, Maya said. There were also African-American and European recipe handouts.
Food was provided by local businesses such as Bandito's, Saggio's and Garcia's. Garcia's donated several dozen biscochitos, Maya said. She said because of the business' donations, the Student Health Center did not have to spend any money.
"We had so many donations," she said. "We didn't have to pay for anything."
Larger businesses, such as Odwalla and Juice Plus, also had booths.
Maya said she was surprised with the student turnout.
"I figured with the free food, a lot of students would come," she said. "But more than I thought were interested in the booths, so that was good."
Maya said she would have liked to have more than 15 booths set up, but she couldn't find enough people to work. She said she would have liked to have Wild Oats and the Lance Armstrong Foundation at the event because both promote healthy diets.
One booth also gave students free safe-sex kits. Student Malissa Bellamy said about 60 people took the safe sex kit, which included condoms and lubricant.
"Everyone always wants free condoms, so that's always a plus," Bellamy said.
Student Tyson Manning said he visited the booth to educate himself about sexually transmitted diseases.
"I talked to them a bit about different STDs and how to prevent them," Manning said.
His favorite aspect of the event was the massage therapy, he said.
"I feel a lot more rejuvenated right now," Manning said.
