RALEIGH -- The odds were stacked against the Exploris Middle School seventh-graders even before they began urging N.C. State University students on Wednesday to change their food habits and eat healthy.
With the smell of free pizza in the air to mark NCSU's Homecoming Week, the middle-schoolers explained to the college students why they should eat fresh food instead of processed. They even suggested those students who still live with their parents eat as a family and not individually.
"They were definitely listening to us," said Lila Olson, 12, of Raleigh. "They were paying attention."
Travis Conte, 21, an NCSU senior, isn't so sure his classmates will heed the advice, though. He recalled his days as a freshman living on campus, where students seemed to survive on microwave ramen noodles and pizzas.
"College students are stereo typically unhealthy, but there are a large concentration of students who do eat healthy," Conte said. "It's not as easy on campus."
The student group that runs the campus farmers market at the Brickyard welcomed the seventh-graders, who are finishing their studies on how food makes its way to people's plates. Sonja McKay, a seventh-grade teacher at Exploris, a charter school in downtown Raleigh, said they wanted the challenge of educating college students about healthy eating.
At one booth, Anne Freeman and Lucas Meeks, both 12, touted the benefits of eggs from your own chickens or from local farmers.
At another booth, Jonathan Strum and Ian Robertson, both 12, pitched shopping at local farmers markets, even if it means not getting some products that are out of season.
"It's better for the environment and for your health to eat local food," said Ian, who lives in Raleigh.
Sisi Fiabema, 23, an NCSU senior, was both impressed and frightened when Lila Olson told her that Chicken McNuggets contain a form of lighter fluid. The students cited Michael Pollan's book "Omnivore's Dilemma" as their source for that information.
"I'm definitely not going to eat chicken nuggets at McDonald's again," Fiabema said.
But the seventh-graders didn't keep Fiabema from joining other NCSU students who waited in line to get a free slice from Marco's Pizza.
"We're broke college students," Fiabema said. "It's free. They raised our tuition by $900."
