From Panda Express to grab-and-go hummus wraps, students have a lot of food choices at the Union — both healthy and unhealthy.
Chartwells, the company in charge of most food locations on campus, picked what food is available at the Union. In all, there are nine stations, including the U Market Place, Jamba Juice and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
Lìght Bates, a junior in technical art and a frequent customer of the Union food court, said healthy food is a “relative term” at the U.
“I do not have any objections to the Union,” he said. “[But] if I’m going to order at Panda Express, I’m not expecting it to be healthy. “
For him, the food is better at the Union than at the Heritage Center because there are more options and it’s quicker. He said if students are trying to be healthy, they can opt for salads instead of burgers.
Carlyn Dahlquist, an undeclared freshman, said it’s possible to eat healthy at the Union.
“I buy my food [there] based on price and how healthy it is,” she said.
She prefers purchasing her food from the food trucks but will grab lunch at Einstein Bros. Bagels or a smoothie at Jamba Juice in a pinch. For her, it’s still not enough.
“I think that there needs to be more and healthier options at the Union,” Dahlquist said.
If a student is counting calories, they can look at menus for the Union eateries online at dineoncampus.com/utah/show.cfm?cmd=menus. For example, a whole tandoori chicken salad from Chop’d, the Union’s salad station, is 372 calories.
A student can also go to myfitnesspal.com, an organization that Chartwells is working with, to research the nutritional value of menu items.
@chriswritine