Texas college dining offerings have undergone massive upgrades since the 1980s and even...
on a recent Tuesday that included white chicken chili, sun-dried pesto grilled tofu and cochinita pibil tostadas with black beans and pickled onions.
Several universities now contract management of food service to giants Aramark or Chartwells, capable of offering more inclusive menu options for people with dietary restrictions and menus that change daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Retail outposts from national, local and internally created brands are exploding on campuses. And limiting food waste and increasing sustainability, while trying to profit, are increasingly the goals.
“There’s something about satisfaction and making everyone feel like there’s something here for them to eat that is comfortable to them,” Vienne said. “That helps with retention, it helps with health. But not necessarily profits.”Dining officials said they don’t struggle for customers, since students often can't leave campus at mealtimes. At UH, as enrollment has grown and food options have diversified, the number of people with dining plans has also increased, according to university data.
Sam Houston State University this year has about 2,100 on-campus residents and at least 400 commuters with meal plans, Vienne said. And at the state’s largest university, Aggie Dining feeds 60,000 people a day between A&M’s dining halls, retail concepts and catering services, Senior Executive Chef George Charbel said.
“Talking about the cost of higher education, a lot of parents are like, ‘You don’t need a meal plan,’” she said. “When you really look at the value, they do need one. Because without kitchens in their , they’re going to eat retail every day, they’re going to eat junk … but October they’re broke and they don’t have money.”
Nmeso Ukachi-Nwata, a sophomore, said she finds some of the meals to be bland, especially because she’s used to Nigerian foods with heavier spices. “Our company as an organization really drills into the food trends,” she said. “What are the Gen Zers eating? Because maybe five years ago, it was chili mac … but now it’s like, no they’re not eating that. They want Indian food or African cuisine, or they want more cultural experiences, not just your mom-and-pop Hamburger Helper-type menu.”
UH in 2017 began offering mobile order-ahead pick-up services, and two years later became the first campus in Texas to offer robots that deliver food to students. Most Sam Houston State University buildings have “pods” where they can quickly buy sushi or sandwiches. A&M last fall also converted about 40 percent of its dining kiosks to be equipped with technology that allow customers to order themselves, without interacting with someone behind a register.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Houston tornado: Texas Governor Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration for Southeast TexasTexas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that he issued a disaster declaration for communities in Southeast Texas impacted by severe storms that caused damage to homes and businesses on Tuesday.
Read more »
Houston METRO to Decide on Partnership with Houston Bike ShareNext week, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County’s board will vote on a partnership with Houston Bike Share that they say will increase the city’s connectivity, and help with the company's bike share program, BCycle. BCycle started in 2012 with three stations, and now has 155 stations across the...
Read more »
Texas tornado aftermath: Video captures scenes of devastation in Deer Park, outside HoustonA powerful storm system that hit the Texas Gulf Coast on Tuesday spawned a tornado that caused severe damage in Deer Park and other communities outside of Houston.
Read more »
Tornado rips through Houston area as severe weather leaves tens of thousands in Texas without powerThis couple in Orange, Texas, say they “feel blessed to be alive” after they and their dogs were forced to run from their RV and dive into a ditch to shelter as a tornado touched down nearby.
Read more »
Hot Chocolate Run and other sweet fitness events around HoustonHouston's sweetest race returns to Sam Houston Park with beautiful scenery and a...
Read more »