A look at current food court, what students think
By Ben Markley
When student Maica Concepcion was asked about healthy food in the Food Court, her reaction was immediate.
“What healthy food?” she said.
Countless students get their lunch from the Food Court every day, yet none interviewed knew any nutritional information about the food they ate.
Student Daniel Preut said he thought many college students were not concerned with nutritional options.
“For a lot of students, it’s probably not a health choice,” he said. “If I’m going to eat at the Food Court, I’ll probably eat unhealthy.”
Student Brian Pfau echoed that sentiment.
“With what I eat, I’m not really healthy,” he said. “Cost is the main factor.”
Student Rhodora Ringor said she thought convenience was the main priority for hungry students.
“They’re looking for something fast, so they just get pizza,” she said.
Popular menu items of the most popular Food Court options—Chick-Fil-A, Pizza Hut and Southern Tsunami—were compared on the basis of nutritional information. Blvd Burgers and Arriba! did not have nutritional information available when requested from employees. Down Under and the Healthy and Hearty bar were not included due to the daily variety of entrees.
Percentages regarding intake were made on the basis of a 2000-calorie diet.
A single slice of cheese pizza from Pizza Hut Express clocks in at 240 calories. It contains 22 percent of a person’s daily protein and 15 percent of daily fat. It also contains nearly a quarter of a person’s daily sodium intake.
A classic chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A contains 430 calories, providing approximately 60 percent of a person’s daily protein and more than a quarter of their daily fat.
Throw in the popular side of medium waffle fries, and that meal alone comes out to over 40 percent of a person’s daily calorie intake. Along with that comes 70 percent of daily protein and 58 percent of daily fat, not to mention two-thirds of a person’s daily sodium intake.
Chick-Fil-A lovers can find a healthier option in the grilled chicken sandwich, which knocks the calorie count to 290. It’s slightly less protein, but the total fat intake drops 20 percent, along with a 10 percent drop in sodium.
Students looking for a more oriental 290 calories will find it in Tsunami Sushi’s California rolls. These tiny, packaged sushi rolls contain only 7 percent of daily fat intake. What it lacks in protein (14 percent) compared to its competitors, it makes up for with the highest percentage of dietary fiber (12 percent).
Students had their own ideas about food options they’d like to see in the Food Court.
“I think the Food Court should feature more ethnic foods so students can explore and know about other cultures,” Ringor said. “Some people don’t have time to go out to an Indian or Chinese restaurant.”
“I would recommend a make-your-own-sandwich type of thing,” student Lauren Inman said.
Inman said students will start thinking about nutrition sooner or later.
“The older people get, the more they become concerned with health,” she said. “I think it depends on the age. Or the day.”
Contact Ben Markley, staff reporter, at bmarkle2@jccc.edu.
There already is a make your own sandwich in the down under. There isn’t room to have that upstairs. Chik-fil-a has ready made salads, people who don’t want to eat healthily just won’t. Especially if they are so lazy they don’t want to make a salad. As for ethnic food, maybe request they add curries to the hot food menu, but they have done Chinese food on there before.