For those broke college students in search of a free meal, today is your day.
The Minority Association of Pre-Health Students is offering free food to students from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the UC --nutritional food that is.
MAPS will giving away free samples of fruits, vegetables and healthy desserts and distribute literature on nutrition.
A subsidiary of the Student National Medical Association, MAPS is sponsoring many activities this week including blood pressure screenings, distribution of free condoms and lectures about professional school such as dental, medical and pharmacy.
Senior biology major Erica Lewis said the group is out to benefit students this week.
"We had a lot of good information this week," Lewis said. "And, we hope to attract more students to the events next semester."
According to nurse Jean McIvor, eating nutritious foods is one way to prevent getting sick this flu season.
"Getting enough rest, drinking a lot of fruit juices, washing your hands and not eating after people are some of the ways to prevent getting a cold or flu," McIvor said. "It's the basic things that help."
McIvor said fruit juices are very important because they have more vitamin C than soft drinks such as Coca-Cola.
According to McIvor, coughing, sneezing, aching and fever are some of characteristics associated with both the common cold and the flu. Colds are never as severe as the flu.
"If you have an extremely high fever, feel like you don't want to get out bed and ache all over, you should contact a doctor to make sure it's not something else," McIvor said.
McIvor said stress plays a major role with students getting sick. When students don't sleep well and eat right, they are more vulnerable to becoming sick.
"Anything that causes the body to be under excessive amounts of stress, makes you more susceptible to things illnesses not just colds and the flu," McIvor said.
McIvor suggested students include some relaxation in their week and individuals should try taking a long bubble bath, going out to a movie or getting some exercise.
"Viruses cause colds," McIvor said.
According to McIvor, going outside with wet hair does not cause an individual to get the flu. However, wet hair does cause the body to experience stress because it requires the body to work harder at getting warm.
McIvor advises individuals to be smart and take of themselves.
She said, "A lot things your mama told you were right."
