The Wellness and Empowerment summit took place at Elgin Community College on Oct. 17, 2019. The summit encouraged students to engage in healthy habits and learning about how diet connects with your mood.

A diagram of how mood and food are connected.

Douglas Callegario, a chef with a Bachelor’s in gastronomy, and a speaker at the Wellness and Empowerment Summit, encourages students and faculty to make healthier choices.

According to Callegario, there is a huge correlation between eating well and feeling well. “You are what you eat, but you also feel what you eat,” said Callegario.

Callegario shares a slide that diagrams the nutrients that you should be eating daily.

Callegario answers a question asked by an audience member.

Callegario showed just how easy it is to eat healthy by showing what he packed for lunch, including fruit, peanut butter and an egg. “Once you know [how food affects you]… you can balance your diet to be more efficient [for your lifestyle.] said Callegario.

Callegario served Brazilian, ginger and black tea for a mood boost at the end of the summit.