Fast, fast , fast: That seems to be the motto under which students eat these days, at least when it comes to meals on-the-go.
Between classes, work, socializing and catching some sleep every now and then, students don’t always make time to sit down for a meal. Instead, many get snacks at takeout outlets, such as Grab ‘N’ Go.
But although those outlets offer fast foods such as chicken nuggets and pizza regularly, students have a choice of a wide variety of healthy foods, Glenn White, cash sales manager for University Housing, said.
“We try to keep about 50 percent of items in here healthy,” he said.
That means that next to traditional favorites such as nachos, tacos and chicken nuggets, students can find fruits, salads and tortillas wrapped according to their preferences.
Glenn said students’ favorite foods haven’t changed much over the years, but the list of popular items has grown, thanks to additions such as Odwalla juices and protein bars.
“They really grab it and go,” he said.
He added that students tend to eat healthier during the week and crave soda and sweets by the time the weekend rolls around.
Tom Driscoll, director of food services for University Housing, said in addition to all-time favorite foods such as pizza, students are trying out some new items these days.
“A lot of the traditional things seem to still be popular and a lot of students are experimenting with ethnic foods,” he said.
But even though students are introducing some novelties to their taste buds, they remain loyal to traditional fast-food favorites.
“Traditional items still fly out of here really quickly, like pizza for example,” Driscoll said.
Kristen Olmos, a health educator and a registered dietitian, said not having time to cook is no excuse for not eating healthy.
She suggests stocking up on healthy snacks such as apples, string cheese or yogurt to satisfy cravings before being able to get a real meal.
“I think it’s important if a person doesn’t have time to cook, that they keep healthy snacks on hand,” she said.
Olmos added most students still seem to prefer french fries and baked dishes over fruit and salads.
While many students seem to be taking advantage of Grab ‘N’ Go meals, many also do seem to take the time to sit down for dinner when possible.
Cindy Lund, manager of Carson Dining Hall, said the trend among students eating at Carson Dining Hall leans toward healthier habits, although their all-time favorite, Campbell’s tomato soup, hasn’t changed for years, and continues to be offered once a week.
Besides vegetarian or nearly-vegetarian foods, students eat lots of fruit, she said.
“Fruit has always been a popular item,” she said. “There also seem to be a lot more semi-vegetarians.”
Like most food outlets around campus, Lund goes through loads of suggestion cards on a weekly basis to keep up with students’ preferences and find out exactly what they like for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
She said her impression is that more students nowadays seem to grow up with healthier foods than just a few years ago.
“I would say that over the past five years, they have started to eat healthier,” she said. ‘They’re probably more familiar with non-fat food items more than they were five or 10 years ago.”