What's good for you is often good for the environment.

Eating healthy and locally-sourced food, getting outside to exercise and appreciate natural spaces, and even staying mindful and present in the moment are all part of maintaining a harmonious, mutually-beneficial relationship between ourselves and our natural environment.

Be inspired to live more sustainably. Stay mindful of these questions:

  •     Do I really need this?
  •     Can I borrow this instead, or find it used?
  •     How far away has it come from?
  •     Could this be done or created with less waste?
  •     Is there a lower energy way of doing this?
  •     Could this item and/or its packaging be recycled?

There are many resources both on campus and around Austin to help you live well. Explore below for more information and inspiration. 

Physical Health

Nutrition

Bon Appétit Offerings

Bon Appétit, the food service provider for St. Edward's University, offers delicious and convenient food, while practicing social responsibility, aligning with the university's commitment to sustainability. Among many dining initiatives, "Why Buy Local" underpins the "Eat Local Challenge," which is held every year on campus.

Local Farmers' Markets

You can find a farmers' market in Austin on pretty much any day of the week. They offer produce, meat, dry goods, even crafts and housewares from local farmers and artists. Type "Austin farmers' markets" into Google to find one near you.

Sustainable Food Center Cooking Classes

The Sustainable Food Center here in Austin offers public cooking classes on everything from knife skills, to home butchery, to cooking with herbs. Sharpening your cooking skills can turn you into a more creative and efficient cook, allowing you to make the most of local ingredients. Take a look at the Sustainable Food Center class schedule.

Exercise

Campus Recreation

St. Edward's Campus Recreation offers a plethora of activities and programs to help you stay active and healthy on campus and beyond. Take a yoga or kickboxing class through their Group X Fitness program, or head out on a camping adventure to one of Texas' national or state parks with the Outdoor Adventure program. You can even rent camping equipment from Campus Recreation to blaze your own trails.

Mental & Emotional Wellness

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The EAP provides valuable services at no cost to employees and their families in the form of short-term counseling and legal and financial consultations. Contact Human Resources for more information on this staff and faculty benefit.

Health & Counseling Center

The HCC provides high quality integrated health, counseling, and wellness services to support our diverse student population in achieving their highest potential. Learn more about HCC and what they can do for you.

Volunteering

Volunteerism is good for your soul and can be good for the environment. Thankfully, Austin has countless volunteer opportunities, many of which are directly related to environmental causes! Head to Google to find your perfect fit.

Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry "seeks to be a welcoming presence within the community of St. Edward's University. While our Catholic character informs our role as educators in the faith, we minister to and with peoples of all faiths. Through the formation of heart and mind, in the Holy Cross tradition, we hope to catalyze both personal and communal transformation. Such transformation invites all people into right relationship with self, others and God. These relationships are expressed through spirituality, service and social justice."