(Kayla Wong -- The Beacon)
By Kyle Buchberger
The Commons, Cove and Anchor are great places for the University of Portland family to come together and share a meal. However, since last year the prices of food in all three establishments have been raised dramtically.
The prices for salads, soups, carve options and sandwiches have all seen an increase since last year. These are some of the healthier options and to raise the prices on these items seems to be counterintuitive to what Bon Appétit preaches about being a health-conscious company.
Another issue that has continued to plague many students is the price of fruit on campus. Buying a banana, orange, apple, peach or any other kind of fruit all runs the same price: $1. If someone goes to Fred Meyer to buy bananas they will pay 89 cents per pound! And that is the price for the organic bananas. Dole bananas come in at 67 cents per pound. The markup Bon Appétit uses for their fruit on campus – the healthier option – plagues every student daily, not just a select few.
Then there is the issue with side salads and all sides in general. Many students who choose to be health conscious when they eat find it odd that they cannot buy a slice of pizza and then put a small side salad on it from the salad bar.
The rules in The Commons are: if anything from the salad bar is on your plate you will be charged for a Not-So-Big-Salad, which costs $4.75.
Again, Bon Appétit claims to be a healthy-eating establishment and cares about sustainability, but does not make it possible for students to have a piece of chicken and a side salad for under $11.50.
Obviously, if a student wants a salad bigger than just a side they should be charged for a bigger salad – it only makes sense.
The fact is, many students would choose to eat healthier on a daily basis if an option for a side salad from the salad bar and cheaper fruit were viable options. At present, they are not.
I have lived on campus three of the four years I have been a student here. I can honestly say Bon Appétit did many things right when they changed The Commons and The Cove.
Waste has been greatly reduced and more choices for food are available on a daily basis. Both of these are great things, and I applaud Bon Appétit for their work. But, the prices do not get the same praise.
UP students are dedicated to many physical activities that get them outside and keep them healthy. Why then can they not have a healthy, well-balanced meal on a daily basis without spending a fortune?
