Anyone who has eaten on campus lately can testify that healthy choices are not always the easiest to find among the seemingly endless rows of curly fries and mini pizzas. But that’s about to change.
In early March, U President David Pershing signed the Real Food Campus Commitment, making the U the largest school in the nation to agree to turn 20 percent of its food budget toward real food. The achievement of this goal is set for 2020.
Real food is defined by the 100 Days of Real Food Challenge as whole foods found in their natural state: fruits and vegetables, organic dairy products, 100 percent whole wheat/whole grain products, wild-caught seafood, humanely raised local meats, natural sweeteners in moderation, organic dried fruits and seeds and an assortment of naturally sweetened beverages.
The point of the initiative is to give students options. You will still be able to grab a burger and fries, but the hope is that by having the real food options readily accessible, students will improve their eating habits.
Laura Byl, a freshman in psychology, is excited the U is making a push toward a healthier campus.
“Walking into the Union is so tempting,” Byl said. “There are so many delicious but unhealthy options. There have been so many times that I have gone to grab an apple, but on my way over I see the pizza and chips and have to remind myself that those aren’t healthy options. It’s not easy to do.”
Erin Olschewski, a sustainability ambassador and vice president of the Real Food Challenge at the U, said, “The U has an immense power to create and inspire innovative change in campus food systems. This commitment is just the first step in what will be an ongoing evolution of student-led movements for sustainable changes.”
Schools participating in the Real Food Campus Challenge sign a commitment form that outlines the necessary steps the school will undergo. Besides allocating at least 20 percent of the school’s food budget to the purchase of real food, schools also commit to spreading awareness about real food options and realistic sustainability changes.
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