The Healthy State Task Force is starting a new program in all campus C-Stores to encourage students to choose healthier options while shopping at the stores.

Lisa Eberhart, University Dining dietitian, said Healthy State started a program where certain foods in the C-Stores will be labeled with a pawprint in order to identify it as a possible healthy option.

She said foods that receive the pawprint label will have to fall under certain criteria.

“The food needs to be low in fat, high in fiber, have no trans fat or be low in sugar,” Eberhart said.

Students are also able to go to University Dining’s Web site and check out which foods are wolf-approved at the dining halls, according to Eberhart.

Eberhart said the criteria required for the C-Store wolf-approved foods vary from those needed for the same recognition at the dining halls.

She also said the wolf-approved program started in the dining halls at the beginning of the school year, while the C-Store portion of the program will officially begin in all C-Stores by the end of the week.

Eberhart said even with the new wolf-approved program, students shouldn’t depend on the C-Store for every meal.

“The things at the C-Store, we consider those things snacks,” she said.

Eberhart said the goal is to inspire students to think about what they are eating, especially first-year students.

“The Healthy State Task Force [wants] to improve the health of entering freshman at N.C. State, and our hope is to make them more healthy than when they came in,” she said.

Cherie Fontanilla, a sophomore in business management, said although she and her friends already try to eat healthy, the new pawprint labels could make choosing items easier.

“I’ve just begun to look at the labels to see which foods are more nutritious for my body,” she said. “So, I think it would benefit me.”

She said while it’s a great idea, she’s not sure how well it will actually go over with the student body.

“It would definitely help students become more aware of a healthier diet,” she said.

McBryde Cameron, a freshman in biological sciences, said although the thought of small pawprints on some of the packaging of his food is humorous, the goal of the initiative is important.

“American is the most unhealthy nation, and every small step towards a fit body and mind is great,” Cameron said.

Eberhart said Healthy State is also beginning a pedometer program this year to encourage students to walk.