According to a study performed by the journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, students who look at nutritional labels more frequently tend to value healthy eating habits. When you go into the cafeteria at Del Mar College and look at the menu you don’t see the calorie count on the price board.
Leon Rodriguez, director of Campus Dining, has tried to put the calorie count on the menu but has had some trouble in getting it processed.
“Someone has gotten to me about that and I’m waiting to get a response from the vendors to put the calorie count on whatever we have to offer,” Rodriguez said.
Students should be able to look at their options and be able to see how much their calorie intake is.
“People can’t incorporate what they eat at home here at school,” said occupational therapy student Angelica Zuniga.
Thanks to the move by Campus Dining, they soon may be able to.
Another change that would benefit students is a broader selection of entrees. For students who are vegan, vegetarian or have beliefs that prohibit them from eating meat or dairy products, eating in a campus diner can be a bit of a dilemma.
For students who are lactose intolerant the options can seem narrow. Milk, eggs, cheese and other dairy products are common ingredients in everyday campus foods.
“It’s a lot more common then people realize,” Zuniga said.
With Campus Dining open to change, students should let them know there is a need. Go by and voice your opinion.
As students who constantly rely on Campus Dining to get us through the day, having a wider selection of meals can make or break the endless cycle of lunchroom repetition. The students and faculty could benefit from this, as it would attract positive attention from the students.
“We basically have unhealthy options here besides the salad bar,” said nursing student Amber Watkins.
Individuals who normally couldn’t eat certain foods would be able to have an enjoyable lunch without worrying about the possibility of an upset stomach or violating their beliefs.
Also, a wider selection of cuisine would allow for the Culinary Department to assist or practice their techniques in the kitchen, since a wider selection of food would call for more culinary training or even the assistance of a chef.
With all the Registered Student Organizations, or clubs, plus International Day and other events at Del Mar College, students often get their first real taste of diversity on campus. It would be great if those eye-opening experiences included some mouth-watering ones too. Why not spotlight a certain culture’s food during special periods, like Hispanic Heritage Month, Hanukkah, etc.?
If this sounds like something you’d like to see — and eat — swing by and let Campus Dining know. They’re shown they’re open to giving students want they want. Let’s show them we’re hungry for change.
Healthier food options wanted at DMC
