Reporter
A variety of fast foods are offered on the CSU Bakersfield campus.
Whether a student is grabbing a cup of coffee from Peet’s or getting a sandwich from TOGO’S, grabbing a quick meal before class is never a dilemma.
However, the food students are consuming in the rush of the day often lacks the proper nutrition that will keep them prepared for their courses.
Joyce Williams, a freshman who lives on campus, talked about trying to eat healthy food on-campus.
“I want to eat food which is of better quality. I understand that organic food might be too expensive, but we can work on eliminating companies such as Tyson and Foster Farms. I can see that snacks on campus have a healthier component to them. However, the food truly has none. I usually eat a pizza every day because the salads are not as fresh. I would like to go to TOGO’S, but it’s not included in our meal plans,” said Williams.
Students appreciate that healthier snacks are provided on campus, but the limited nutritional options are problematic.
There is also a lack of diverse food options, which makes the dining experience bland.
Andrew Oliveros, a sophomore at CSUB, said he felt the campus could improve food variety.
“I work out, and try to get a certain amount of protein, but the chicken is usually dry with very little to no seasoning at all. I am of Mexican descent, and I like to have flavor in my food. I believe that the campus should cater the need of students that study from all over the world. We also have a lot of international students, and the university should look into getting food vendors that offer more diverse option such as Chinese or Italian cuisine,” said Oliveros.
CSUB has had several events on campus which offered a wide range of ethnic food, including the Chinese New Year Event, the Diwali Festival, and the Eid Festival.
However, students want these options to be available every day, because they are getting tired of eating pizzas or salads.
Some students feel indifferent about what the campus offers.
Melanie Sandoval, a sophomore on campus, said that she felt the food was not the best, but not the worst either.
However Sandoval finds the prepared meals sold around campus convenient.
“If I left the campus, then parking becomes an issue because it’s hard to find. I prefer eating on campus because it saves time for me, but it does upset me when I ask regarding nutritional facts, and the staff is usually ambiguous about the ingredients. The food we eat impacts our energy level, and I prefer to know about what I am consuming on an everyday basis,” said Sandoval.
Students are also concerned with the ambience of the cafeteria.
Sandoval said that the benches outside the Runner Café are falling apart, and that she feels uncomfortable when she sits outside to eat her lunch.
According to some students, a cafeteria renovation and more variety would make their dining experiences more pleasant.
