Often we want a black and white answer to this question. Yes or no. But the truth is, there are numerous factors that go into whether or not something is healthy. And the final answer is unique to each individual. What is “healthy” for you, may not feel so “healthy” to another. So, I encourage this point of view: don’t look to what others assign to be healthy or unhealthy, find out for yourself. I hope to inspire this way of thinking in these weekly caf-blogs.
Of the many parameters that go into the relative healthiness, we can look at things such as portion size, sourcing, macronutrient content, level of processing, added sugar content, etc. Of perhaps greater importance is our relationship to our food. How does it make us feel? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally?
If the food we are eating makes us feel sluggish physically, mentally, emotionally, can we say it contributes positively to our health? Only you can know. Start to pay attention to your relationship with food, and how it makes you feel while eating, and after. I suggest that what’s healthy for you is about finding what makes you feel good, gives you energy and feels/tastes good to eat. Start to play with that and see what comes up. This is a self-experiment practiced with curiosity, not judgment. So whatever you notice, treat yourself with kindness and let yourself learn more about what healthy means to YOU.
Quiggy’s Bio:
Quiggy, a certified life coach, has worked with weight loss/management programs for six years now. He struggled with obesity and his relationship with food and dieting as a teenager and has been on a long journey to better understand the intricacies of the human relationship with diet, movement, health and well-being.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Tropicana Student Living and UCSB Athletics announced a $1 million commitment to the school’s Intercollegiate Athletics program Friday. The gift from Tropicana Student Living, a gift intention made through the Gaucho Fund to be paid over several years, will be part of The Campaign for UC Santa Barbara, the university’s comprehensive campaign approaching one billion dollars to benefit university programs, students, faculty and staff.
“We have long appreciated the enormous effort that UCSB Athletics’ coaches and players have done to excel at their sport and reach out to our UCSB students as well as the youth in the local Santa Barbara community,” explained Kent W. Dunn, Managing Principal of Tropicana Student Living. “Through our daily work with the University, we have become aware of plans that are actively underway to enhance several UCSB Athletic facilities.”
“We are so appreciative of this commitment from Tropicana Student Living and their part in the success of our programs and student-athletes,” said Mark Massari, Director of UCSB Athletics.
The Tropicana Student Living gift of $100,000 for the 2013-14 year, the first of their commitment of annual gifts at the same amount, will bring the Gauchos to over $2.2 million in funds raised — one of the most successful fundraising years in UCSB Athletics’ history. The initial gift will directly support needs of the baseball program, including the planned Gaucho Park entry plaza. Subsequent year contributions will provide broad-based support to all 20 intercollegiate programs at the discretion of the Athletic Director.
Tropicana Student Living operates privately-owned residence halls and apartments for students attending the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and other local education institutions. Situated on the western edge of campus with a diverse community of undergraduate students, Tropicana Del Norte is a residence hall well known for its comfortable suite-style units, unlimited meal plan and resort-style amenities, while Tropicana Villas is an academically focused apartment community catering to upperclassmen. The Official Student Housing sponsor of UCSB Athletics, Tropicana Student Living also hosts more than 90 summer camps annually and has been the summer home of Michael Jordan’s Flight School since 1995.
“Tropicana communities provide a living environment that supports a successful transition from home to independent living and academic success by following a wellness model that encompasses the physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual and environmental elements of student life and growth,” Dave Wilcox, Tropicana’s Executive Director said. “Our management team, most of whom live on site, works closely with campus officials to ensure that our community policies are consistent with campus missions and policies.”
“Tropicana’s student residents—athletes and non-athletes alike—are outstanding in every way,” Dunn said. “They are talented and hard-working and reflect the greatness of a world-class institution. We are grateful for the opportunity to be partnered with UCSB to serve them.”
UCSB student-athletes have an 85% NCAA graduation success rate – second highest within the University of California system. UCSB is one of only 62 members of the distinguished Association of American Universities (AAU). The university’s 450 student-athletes compete across 20 NCAA Division I sports.
To make a donation to UCSB Athletics, please visit www.gauchofund.com or call Andy Fee, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development at 805.893.4960. For more information about Tropicana Student Living, call Executive Director Dave Wilcox at 805.968.4319.
The students from East Palo Alto’s Phoenix Academy. (Left to Right) Nick H., Manny N., Brenda H., Fernanda G., David A., Cindy M., Tandra M., Jazlin B.
SANTA BARBARA, CA – May 26, 2014 – Students from East Palo Alto’s Phoenix Academy high school created a beautiful chalk art square for Tropicana Student Living at the 2014 I Madonnari street painting festival at the Santa Barbara Mission this Memorial Day weekend. The surreal images inspired by nature were completed under the direction of former Trop Resident Assistnat, Brandon Teris. Brandon is now an Art Instructor at East Palo Alto Phoenix Academy, and he has been bringing his students to participate in I Madonnari for the past four years. This year, 8 students from Phoenix Academy made up Tropicana’s I Madonnari student team.
“We are very proud of Brandon and his team,” said Dave Wilcox, Executive Director. “We love their work and look forward to welcoming them back to Tropicana for the I Madonnari festival next year.”
In 2012, Brandon returned to paint a mural for the the upper Café at Tropicana Del Norte, a residence hall for UCSB students. A year later, he turned the Tropicana Del Norte study lounge into an academic oasis with a calming ocean scene.
Brandon Teris, former Resident Assistant, with the mural he painted in the study lounge at Tropicana Del Norte.
SANTA BARBARA, CA – April 17, 2014 – For several hours on a sunny Thursday afternoon, more than 75 Tropicana Student Living residents and staff along with UCSB Lacrosse, UCSB Field Hockey, and local youth soccer teams came together to prepare meal packets for Stop Hunger Now. Tropicana Gardens Café turned into an assembly line to create 7,500 meals of rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables and nutrients.
Isla Vista hasn’t been seen in the greatest light the last couple weeks, and we want to show that our students are doing great things here at Tropicana Student Living,” says Dave Wilcox, Executive Director of Tropicana Student Living. “This is just an example of something that they’re doing that’s great for the community and great for the world.” The 7,500 meals that the Tropicana students and staff assembled will be distributed to Guatemala through Stop Hunger Now, an international hunger relief agency that ships them to school feeding programs in developing countries.
Stop Hunger Now coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world, with a mission to end hunger in our lifetime. Stop Hunger Now’s meal packing program began in 2005, and since then, more than 100,000 volunteers have packaged nearly 30 million meals to feed the world’s impoverished.
About Tropicana Student Living
Tropicana Student Living operates private residence halls and apartments for students attending the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in Santa Barbara, California. Tropicana Del Norte Residence Hall (www.tropicanadelnorte.com), conveniently located adjacent to UCSB’s Main Campus is a small and friendly community with spacious suite-style units, an unlimited meal plan and resort-style living. Tropicana Villas (www.tropvillas.com) is an Isla Vista apartment community that caters to upperclassmen with furnished apartments and flexible leasing options. Tropicana Gardens (www.tropicanagardens.com), located an express bus ride away from Santa Barbara City College, is a private residence hall that provides an attractive alternative to apartments for SBCC students with its suite-style units and social and recreational activities organized by its large team of energetic RAs. For more information about housing options for UCSB and SBCC students, please call 805-968-4319.
Santa Barbara, CA – October 9, 2013 – Tropicana Student Living, a local Santa Barbara student housing organization, unveiled a new name and look this week, changing their name from Tropicana Student Housing to Tropicana Student Living.
“We feel that the name Tropicana Student Living better aligns with our mission and identity,” said Dave Wilcox, Executive Director. “We are very proud of the superb undergraduate living experience that we deliver to our residents with our extensive residential life program, tropical-themed communities and dedicated staff.”
Committed to supporting local students in their quest for independence and academic success, Tropicana communities provide college students with flexible rooming options, meal plans and professional staff to ensure a successful transition from home to independent college living. In addition to providing an environment that supports academic success, Tropicana sponsors social, educational, and recreational events, creating an enriching overall college living experience.
For the rebranding project, Tropicana turned to Kosaka Design. “The new Tropicana Student Living brand embodies those special years as a college student,” said Wayne Kosaka, Creative and Brand Director. The bird of paradise flowers forge a home that symbolizes living, support and sustenance that reflects Tropicana Student Living’s reason for being.
Pictured Above: Tropicana Student Living Residence Life Team for the 2013-2014 academic year in their staff shirts featuring
About Tropicana Student Living
Tropicana Student Living offers residence hall and apartment living to more than 1,000 students attending the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). Tropicana Gardens Residence Hall provides SBCC community college students with a traditional college residential living experience; Tropicana Del Norte Residence Hall caters to UCSB students with suite style-living and is the Official Student Housing Sponsor of UCSB Athletic and Tropicana Villas (formerly known as Villas at Tropicana) is an apartment community for upperclassmen. All communities welcome international students studying in Santa Barbara. In the summer months, Tropicana Student Living hosts more than 90 summer camps and conferences and is the home of Michael Jordan’s Flight School. For more information please contact Dave Wilcox, Executive Director at (805) 968-4319 or dwilcox@tropicanastudentliving.com.
Santa Barbara, CA – August 1, 2013 – Tropicana Student Housing is proud to welcome Michael Jordan Flight School 2013 basketball camps for the 18th year. Campers, who range in age from 7-18, will be staying at Tropicana Gardens and Tropicana Del Norte residence halls. With its convenient proximity to the UCSB Thunderdome, Tropicana’s residence halls are within easy walking distance for the campers, with suite-style accommodations and an on-site Café for meals.
“Every year, I am so excited to work with the Michael Jordan Flight School and their staff. They are so professional, organized and they really work hard for all their participants to have such a great experience.” said David Wilcox, Executive Director. “I believe this is why they have so many participants that come back every year!”
Mark Raveling, Michael Jordan Flight School Camp Director, says, “We have been hosting the MJ camp at Tropicana and UCSB since 1995 and always look forward to coming back each year. We are excited for our 18th year.”
Michael Jordan Flight School is among the world’s finest youth basketball camps, where girls and boys can learn the fundamentals of shooting, dribbling, rebounding, passing, and defense from NBA great, Michael Jordan, and his first class coaching staff. For more information, see the Michael Jordan Flight School website.
About Tropicana Student Housing
Tropicana Student Housing offers residence hall and apartment living to more than 1,000 students attending the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). Tropicana Del Norte Residence Hall caters to UCSB freshmen; Tropicana Gardens offers SBCC students a college residential living experience and the Villas at Tropicana is an upperclassman apartment community. Tropicana is the Official Student Housing Sponsor of UCSB Athletics.
Tropicana Student Housing provides accommodations for more than 90 summer camps annually. Camp directors love Tropicana’s convenient locations to the UCSB campus, including the Thunderdome, pools, gyms and baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse fields. Summer campers enjoy furnished suite-style accommodations with meals included at a dining hall right on the premises. For more information on hosting a summer camp, contact Dave Wilcox, Executive Director at (805) 968-4319 or dwilcox@tropicanastudentliving.com.
