When Student Senate addressed the eating options in Umphrey Lee Dining Hall in a recent Peruna Poll, 61 percent of students said the food was not healthy.
There is now good news for students who felt the Umphrey Lee Dining Hall provided unhealthy foods: Umphrey Lee has now added a new Health-Up section. While many students think this is a positive effort toward healthier foods, they feel this isn’t enough.
Formerly, most meats and vegetables were deep-fried or cooked in butter, which contains high levels of fat and cholesterol. Also, most carbohydrates served were “simple carbs” which contain white flour. These are the carbs that give carbs a bad reputation.
Whole-grain carbs, like brown rice and whole-wheat breads and pastas, contain high amounts of fiber, nutrients and vitamins that are vital to a healthy lifestyle. The Health-Up section provides steamed brown rice, vegetables and organic fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots. It also includes wheatgrass purees and freshly squeezed fruit juice.
“I think it’s a good idea, but the section is too small,” freshman Tommy Dingwall said.
Many students agree with Dingwall, saying the Health-Up section is a great idea and a healthy alternative to foods cooked in butter, but the variety it offers isn’t wide enough.
“I always eat healthy, organic foods at home, so I was really excited when they added this new section, but there just isn’t enough there,” first-year Gweneth Sullivan said.
First-year senator and representative to The Dining Services Board Nick Errichetto, the mastermind behind the Health-Up section, met with Tim Schaub, executive chef at Umphrey Lee, to discuss this matter. Errichetto says the current Health-Up section is just a trial run, and there is still more to come.
“I was upset about the quality of our food here and I wanted Umphrey Lee to provide more organic, whole-grain foods,” he said. “I know right now it’s not enough, but it is a start. I plan to meet with him [Schaub] further to discuss more eating options.”
Errichetto’s new health plan proposal includes grilled chicken cooked with lemon, not butter. Also, it incorporates grilled lean red meats containing low levels of fat. He wants to include organic whole-wheat bread, whole-wheat pasta salads and fresh organic berries.
In addition to foods, Errichetto also wants to add healthy, organic drinks, such as organic skim milk, V8 Juice, which contains no added sugar, and fresh fruit smoothies.
