Services plan to make BU food options healthier and combat space problems
Sabrina Sebastian
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
BY SABRINA SEBASTIAN
"Life is all about choices, so is food," said Susan Locke, Bellarmine's General Manager of Food Services. "We can't totally get rid of pizza and hamburgers, but what we can do is offer some healthier choices," Locke elaborated.
Sodexho, Bellarmine's current food service provider, is in the third year of its scheduled five year contract, which was renewed in 2004. During Locke's tenure as Food Service General Manager, she has made her focus bringing new and healthier choices to Kosters Commons, The Café and both snack carts on campus. All food service venues on campus are currently focusing on offering healthier choices, including hummus, more vegetables, salads, and less use of oil and butter.
This year in particular, Kosters has been concentrating on developing the international station, bringing a vast array of new options. Some of the exotic new options include, sushi, gyros, lamb, curry, Cuban and Indian foods.
Locke credits a large amount of the successful expansion to new chef, Mark Justice. Justice has a background in restaurant and corporate food service. He also worked in the D.C. area, which is famous for its eclectic food choices. "The student body as a whole is more receptive to the new and different things we have been trying. This has allowed us to do a lot of things we wouldn't have before." Locke said.
Locke said while Bellarmine Food Services are thriving, there are still many issues to be faced and worked on. Locke offered, "Facilities and numbers are the biggest challenge that we are currently facing, producing enough food to provide for the increased amount of students on campus and making sure we have space for them to eat."
While Kosters is bettering its food offerings, there is still a major problem with overcrowding. "We know overcrowding is an issue and we have tried to make accommodations that will help," Locke explained.
Food Services has opened the private dining room for students, in hopes that the extra space will provide more needed seating. With the Siena dining facility scheduled to open after Thanksgiving Break, Locke hopes that will further help with the overcrowding issues.
With Bellarmine adding a new Exercise Science program in the near future and Vision 20/20 dealing with health and wellness, Sodexho has a specific healthy eating program that could possibly be introduced at Bellarmine. "Currently, a Sodexho program called The Balanced Way is in place at several colleges and universities across the nation." The program focuses on providing more healthy choices to students and educating them on the importance of a healthy, well balanced diet.
Bellarmine Food Services are always looking for ways to better the campus dining experience. "We really care about the student's input. We listen to the complaints and suggestions, and try to make any changes we can accommodate," Locke said.
To give your input on Bellarmine Food Services, place a comment card in the comment box located in Kosters or e-mail Susan Locke at slocke@bellarmine.edu
"Life is all about choices, so is food," said Susan Locke, Bellarmine's General Manager of Food Services. "We can't totally get rid of pizza and hamburgers, but what we can do is offer some healthier choices," Locke elaborated.
Sodexho, Bellarmine's current food service provider, is in the third year of its scheduled five year contract, which was renewed in 2004. During Locke's tenure as Food Service General Manager, she has made her focus bringing new and healthier choices to Kosters Commons, The Café and both snack carts on campus. All food service venues on campus are currently focusing on offering healthier choices, including hummus, more vegetables, salads, and less use of oil and butter.
This year in particular, Kosters has been concentrating on developing the international station, bringing a vast array of new options. Some of the exotic new options include, sushi, gyros, lamb, curry, Cuban and Indian foods.
Locke credits a large amount of the successful expansion to new chef, Mark Justice. Justice has a background in restaurant and corporate food service. He also worked in the D.C. area, which is famous for its eclectic food choices. "The student body as a whole is more receptive to the new and different things we have been trying. This has allowed us to do a lot of things we wouldn't have before." Locke said.
Locke said while Bellarmine Food Services are thriving, there are still many issues to be faced and worked on. Locke offered, "Facilities and numbers are the biggest challenge that we are currently facing, producing enough food to provide for the increased amount of students on campus and making sure we have space for them to eat."
While Kosters is bettering its food offerings, there is still a major problem with overcrowding. "We know overcrowding is an issue and we have tried to make accommodations that will help," Locke explained.
Food Services has opened the private dining room for students, in hopes that the extra space will provide more needed seating. With the Siena dining facility scheduled to open after Thanksgiving Break, Locke hopes that will further help with the overcrowding issues.
With Bellarmine adding a new Exercise Science program in the near future and Vision 20/20 dealing with health and wellness, Sodexho has a specific healthy eating program that could possibly be introduced at Bellarmine. "Currently, a Sodexho program called The Balanced Way is in place at several colleges and universities across the nation." The program focuses on providing more healthy choices to students and educating them on the importance of a healthy, well balanced diet.
Bellarmine Food Services are always looking for ways to better the campus dining experience. "We really care about the student's input. We listen to the complaints and suggestions, and try to make any changes we can accommodate," Locke said.
To give your input on Bellarmine Food Services, place a comment card in the comment box located in Kosters or e-mail Susan Locke at slocke@bellarmine.edu
Be the first to comment on this story