Since coming to Northeastern, my diet has gone down a slippery slope. Pizza, burgers, fries, tacos, you name it. I haven’t been eating the healthiest of foods while at college. Because of my busy schedule, I do not have enough time to sit down at the dining hall or run back home for lunch, so I usually grab something quick. I try to fit in my fruits and vegetables during the day, but most of the time I rely a lot on the food at the Curry Student Center.
Curry has the typical food choices for college students: Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, D’Angelos, On the Go and a buffet. Delightful, filling and satisfying – who doesn’t like downing a Crunch Wrap Supreme or Doublestack Burger to keep those collegiate engines running all day? But the more I think about it, the more I wish Northeastern had more options in our student center. Maybe there could be a salad place or just something else that’s not junk food.
I wouldn’t call myself a health food nut. Despite working at Whole Foods, I eat Wendy’s, Taco Bell and Burger King, on occasion. This is not because I love fast food, but because it is convenient. My food choice is based on where I am, and what I have access to at the moment.
Northeastern definitely has great options in the dining hall – vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free selections in addition to salad bars. Why do we not have these options in the student center?
We don’t need to make everything organic, or have a vegan-only restaurant, but the administration can focus on some kind of healthier dining option. I understand the food establishments in Curry do offer some different options, but there are only so many. Instead of salad at Wendy’s, why not have a salad bar separate from the chain all together? Why not have alternative sandwich shops to D’Angelo and Wendy’s? It is possible to have healthier places to satisfy that mid-day craving.
BU’s student union, to which I pay visits on occasion, has many more options than Curry, including a salad bar and bagel shop.
I am not saying that the school should abolish Taco Bell and Wendy’s, but adding more choices could leave us with a little less guilt and let us save room for ice cream.
This might not be easy and it also might not be on the agenda for the administration, but officials should at least consider trying to add more choices in Curry. Just like I said before, who doesn’t like getting Wendy’s once in a while? Once in a while is the key term.
Yes, I could alter my choice, but sometimes it is difficult when you have to stay on campus and cannot make a sandwich at home or head to the dining hall. So next time you get food at Curry, just think about it: Is it possible to have healthier options here? I think so. But in the mean time, supersize that Wendy’s meal, I do it too.
– Ethan Rauf can be reached at [email protected].
