Knowing what is in food can have long-term benefits, and nutritional menus could help students make healthier choices at The Commons and Stingers.
Nutrition labels show students the number of nutrients their bodies are receiving on a daily basis and serve as a guide for students wanting to eat healthier based on their lifestyle.
The Commons and Stingers provide students with allergy labels for different meals, but the restaurants do not provide nutrition menus. In contrast, fast-food restaurants on the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses provide students with online nutritional menus that show students how many calories or carbohydrates are in each meal.
According to Today, 30 percent of U.S. consumers have bought more plant-based items such as coconut jerky and non-dairy yogurt, indicating that more consumers are becoming more health conscious of ingredients found in foods.
KSU alumna Michelle Ijeoma said that nutrition menus should be an option for students who eat at The Commons or Stingers.
“I think we should have that so people on a strict diet can be aware of what they’re putting in their bodies to achieve their goals,” Ijeoma said. “It’s important for us to know what’s in [the food].”
Jenifer Duggan, university dining senior director, said that The Commons and Stingers are collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a nutritional menu in the future.
“We are working with the USDA to assign nutritional facts to each of our ingredients,” Duggan said. “Once this initiative is complete, we will seek out the best way to present this information to our campus community.”
According to Brian Jones, university dining executive chef, The Commons and Stingers offers tours for students who need to follow a strict diet. He said students can schedule a tour of The Commons and Stingers.
“Students with specific dietary needs and interests are encouraged to schedule a chef’s tour of The Commons and Stingers,” Jones said.
On-campus restaurants promote nutrition, but The Commons and Stingers should provide students with nutrition menus soon because nutrition menus educate students on the food they eat at these restaurants. These types of menus also benefit the overall health of students.
On May 7 the U.S Food and Drug Administration required restaurants with 20 or more locations to have nutrition menus for their customers. The FDA encourages consumers to ask for these nutrition menus so that they do not eat over the maximum amount of calories per day. The FDA implemented this requirement to fight obesity and other illnesses in the U.S.
Even though The Commons and Stingers are not required by the FDA to have nutrition menus, it is important for students to be aware of the food they are eating on campus every day.
Reshay Brewer, a senior exercise science major believes that “When you eat better, you feel better.”
