Eating well helps you feel your best. It can also help to reduce your risk of developing certain diseases. As each person and each body is unique, we will all have different dietary requirements and preferences.
Maynooth University aims to provide an environment where a variety of food options exist for staff and students, along with access to information and resources to help you understand what your body needs and campus facilities to ensure you can eat well.
The Maynooth University Edible Garden is a fabulous amenity for students and staff. It is a place to come together, cultivate (and learn to grow) food, improve biodiversity, and eat nutritious food to improve environmental and human health.
Nestled within North campus (between Rowan and Education House), the garden was established by Maynooth Green Campus Sustainable Food and Agriculture Working Group in 2021, and boasts a vibrant oasis of blooms, fruit and vegetables, two apple tree groves, seating areas, and a soon to be ‘outdoor classroom’ space. It was developed to provide an interactive space where students and staff are not bystanders, but active cultivators, sowing seeds of knowledge and reaping the rewards of their labour. Students and staff can exchange knowledge/skills, and amidst the fragrant basil, curry plants and abundance of produce, learning transcends the confines of the traditional classroom.
There are a variety of events organised by staff and students throughout the growing season. Every interaction with the earth becomes a lesson in stewardship and sustainability fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of life, and the importance of nature to improve our health and wellbeing. So come plant your own seed, then nurture, harvest and eat veg you’ve cultivated with your own hands. If you’re not interested in growing, simply come along to sit and enjoy the space.
Over the past two years, MU Environmental Society have become heavily involved in the garden; learning how to cultivate a variety of foods, and reaping the rewards of their produce, whilst improving their physical, mental health and enhancing biodiversity on campus. Find out more about the Enviro Soc on their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/muenvirosoc/, or come to the garden every third Tue of the month to meet them (11am–12pm), or on alternative Wednesday and Thursdays. The full meet-up schedule and list of monthly events is available in the MU monthly eZine, or you can also contact patricia.healykettle@mu.ie for more information.
Bodywhys: offers support, information and understanding for people affected by eating disorders including family and carers. Helpline: (01) 2834963 Email: alex@bodywhys.ie 1890 622212
Healthy Eating Guidelines - HSE.ie
Healthy eating for families - HSE.ie
Helping your child to eat healthily - HSE.ie
Healthy eating at work - HSE.ie
Eating healthily to improve mental health - HSE.ie
hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/our-priority-programmes/heal/heal-docs/101square-meals.pdf
Healthy Food Made Easy: A Community Cooking Programme - HSE.ie
Adequate hydration is a crucial part of a healthy diet. Simply put, we need to drink enough water every day to stay hydrated and keep our body functioning properly.
The Green Campus Team have made sure there is free, quality drinking water available at water fountains around campus. Remember, it reduces plastic consumption when you use a refillable bottle - a win-win for you and our environment.
