Taste what's next!

Student: Hannah London, senior

Urban College: American University in Washington, D.C. (www.american.edu)

vs

Student: Max Kra, freshman

Rural College: Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Penn. (www.bucknell.edu)

Does an urban college offer more diverse food options to hungry students than a rural one? Read on and decide for yourself!

Q: In your opinion, is there a good variety of food choices on your campus? Why or why not?
Hannah: Our dining hall offers many choices, including a salad bar, an “American Grill” that serves burgers and hot dogs, a pizza bar and other choices including vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Max: Our dining hall offers ten different food stations, ranging from an egg bar where you can have whatever egg you desire, to the “Main Grille” where fresh meat is served. Bucknell does a great job of giving students different options each day.

Q: What about off-campus?
Hannah: Because we are located in Washington D.C., it is very easy to just hop on the metro and get any kind of food we crave somewhere in the city.

Max: As a freshman without a car, I spend most of my time in the dining hall; but I have ventured out to town and found some great, affordable restaurants offering quality food.

Q: Describe a typical meal that you might eat on campus.
Hannah: Salad and whatever the vegetarian option is for the day and some fruit. Our dining hall also offers dessert options including cookies, cakes and ice cream, which I usually have a few times per week.

Max: A chicken breast with pasta and a piece of pizza as well as a side salad and ice cream for dessert.

Q: What are some examples of the different cuisines offered both on and off-campus?
Hannah: On-campus offerings include Asian, Indian and Mexican food as well as American “fast food.” About a mile off campus there are restaurants offering Thai, Mexican, Chinese, American and Indian food. There are a few “health food” places close by, such as a smoothie shop and a Whole Foods Market.

Max: On campus there is “Mongo Fresh,” where meat and vegetables are grilled in front of you and there is an Italian section with pizza and pasta offering different sauces. Off campus, Sushihanna offers a diverse menu of sushi and other Japanese foods.

Q: Did the food offerings on and off-campus influence your decision to attend your school? Why or why not?
Hannah: Yes. I think it is very important to eat healthy and that is easy to do both on and off AU’s campus. The dining hall at AU will work with students one on one to ensure any dietary needs are met.

Max: It had some influence; I am currently playing baseball for Bucknell and wanted to choose a school that had a healthy and appetizing dining hall. On my visit I enjoyed the food and knew that after a long day of class or a hard workout, I would enjoy eating here.

Alyvia Burkey is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) who holds a MS in Health Promotion Management from American University (www.american.edu).