By: Tara Goodfellow
Can Algonquin students who buy their meals on campus eat cheaply and nutritiously at the same time?
Most students come to the cafeteria on a regular basis as many do not pack their own lunches or drinks for the day. It is important to eat a proper, well-balanced meal.
This is something people out on their own for the first time often forget.
“I come to the cafeteria whenever I have school, so four times a week,” said Gary Gagne an electro-mechanical engineering technician robotics student. “The prices are good, I’ve been to Carleton and the University of Ottawa, and [the prices are] pretty good.”
The cafeteria holds a few relatively inexpensive healthy food items available. Including tax; a small carton of vegetables is $2.98, a turkey pita is $4.52, a vegetarian pizza is $3.75 and a wrap of your choice is $4.69.
Some people argue they find the prices in the cafeteria to be expensive for students.
As many students come to school without pre-cooked or pre-packaged lunches, they are forced to go to the cafeteria for their lunches and snacks. On a regular basis, it can become very costly.
“It’s pretty expensive, definitely,” said Ashlynn Dunpny a first-year developmental social worker student.
But some students feel that the prices that are on the food are not fitting.
In addition to seeing more options in the cafeteria, students would also like to see the quality of their food improve.
“I think they should lower the prices for the quality [of the food] they’re providing,” said Ajay Khandavalli, a business administration student.
“Studies show that students on average gain three to 10 pounds during their first two years of college. Most of this weight gain occurs during the first semester of freshman year,” according to an online article, “Beating the Freshman 15” found on kidshealth.org.
However, trying to find healthy foods to eat is what students try to make an effort at.
“Some things, like the smoothies are ok. They [have] a salad bar but it’s not big and everything else isn’t really healthy,” said Marissa Eales, a first-year baking and pastry arts student. “I would like to see more gluten-free foods.”