Some seek more food options in ICC cafeteria, but change might be unlikely

An informal survey of Illinois Central College students and staff found that many want more food options at the East Peoria campus cafeteria, but cafeteria management says different and healthier options often go unpurchased.

Student Jacob Weber, a sophomore studying computer science, said that he eats in the ICC cafeteria multiple times per week.

“I eat the same thing every day. I eat chicken tenders,” he said, adding, “It would be nice to have cheaper options like Raman.” As for healthier options, “I wouldn’t pay attention to it,” he said.

Like Weber, Amari Giles, a sophomore studying engineering, also often eats in the cafeteria. He said he would like to see hot dogs added to the menu.

Other students think there are not enough healthy options offered.

Alejandria Kellum, a freshman studying science, said she does not eat in the cafeteria too often. Kellum said that she might eat there twice per month.

“There is not much variety. When I get a break, it is closed already.”  

Kellum said that the cafeteria should offer “other food options for people who can’t eat certain items, vegetarian, vegan”, adding, “There is a lot of sugary options.”

Yusra Malik, a freshman studying statistics, said she brings her lunch from home because the cafeteria does not offer halal meat.  She does not eat another type of meat due to her Muslim faith. However, Malik said that she probably would not eat from the cafeteria because she prefers the meals from home.

“They fill me up”, she said.

ICC English teacher Sharon Gile said that she rarely eats in the cafeteria.

“This is the first time this semester,” she said. “My students think there should be healthier options.”

She said her students want variety and that they recently discussed how there should be fast food chains in the cafeteria, like the popular fast-food choice Raising Cane’s.

One healthy food advocacy group, Partnership for a Healthier America, would like to see a change in college and university cafeterias across the nation.  The organization highlights a study published in Preventative Medicine Journal in 2014. It showed that 95% of students fail to eat the recommended number of fruits and vegetables.

Partnership for Healthier has been forming partnerships with various colleges and universities to improve campus nutrition. Each partnered college or university has to

agree to implement a total of 23 of 41 available recommendations over three years. Illinois State University is the closest university to join the Healthier Campus Initiative. The university joined in 2019 for a three-year agreement. There are currently 574 other partners across the nation.

Brian Davis is the manager of the ICC cafeteria, a job he has held for four years. Davis said chicken tenders and fries are the most sold items on the menu. As for healthier options, he said that the cafeteria workers might sell one order of grilled chicken per week, and they sell about ten salads a day. A couple of years ago, he offered fresh bananas and oranges, but he had to stop selling them because nobody was purchasing them.  Protein bars rarely sell, as well.

Davis said that they also sell the popular Uncrustables and Hummus Cups. He added that if students would like a black bean burger, they can ask for one because there are a few kept for purchase.

“At the end of the day, it’s a business. It has to be profitable to stay,” Davis said.