As concerns about nutrition and wellness continue to rise among North Carolina A&T students, students often face a significant challenge: the limited availability of nutritious meal options.
North Carolina A&T has stepped forward to address the issue. Through educational campaigns and community efforts, A&T and students have come together to combat this issue and cultivate a healthier lifestyle on campus.
“Since I have been at A&T, we had Chick-Fil-A, Fried Chicken Fridays at The Caf (cafeteria), and a Pizza Hut on campus.” Mitchell Wilson, a senior engineering student, said.
To address the lack of nutritional food on college campuses, specifically at A&T, you have to look at the root of the problem. At universities across the nation, HBCU students are often at a disadvantage in terms of nutrition in compared to other universities.
Most HBCUs are in underfunded communities, and access to healthier food alternatives is at times inaccessible for several reasons that range from pricing to methods of transportation.
Many students at A&T have expressed that the dining options on and adjacent to campus contribute to poor eating habits.
“I didn’t get my car until the summer of my junior year, so my options were limited to The Caf (cafeteria) and other restaurants on campus,” Drew Smith said. “Close to campus is Wendy’s, Cookout, and Mrs. Winners, so my friends and I would walk there if we wanted something cheap,” Smith said.
For A&T students, many opt for meal plans that are available through the university each semester. Pricing per semester varies depending on the meal plan you purchase, the unlimited meal plan is $2,058.16 per semester and is available to freshmen, upperclassmen, and commuter students.
“I have Meal Plan A and sometimes I didn’t like the options available so I would eat Chick-Fil-A,” Kaley Linzsey said. “Sometimes I have to go to Chick-Fil-A or the Bojangles off-campus because The Caf would close early,” Linzsey said.
For healthier options to be introduced on campus, the matter lies in the hands of students and department heads at A&T. Students have to make their concerns heard by those in charge so changes can be made. School officials do their part by being receptive to students' concerns and by reaching out to local businesses in the area to bring healthier options on campus.
“I think A&T should build a Food Lion type of store that sells fresh produce or close down the Qdoba on campus and replace it with a fresh produce store,” Chancé Dowd said.
A&T has been making some strides in introducing healthier options on campus. In 2019, the Aggie Source Food Pantry was introduced to students. The Aggie Source Food Pantry offers students the opportunity to visit twice a month to receive fresh produce and other grocery items by just showing their school ID. The Aggie Source Food Pantry operates from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Although A&T is making improvements by offering healthy alternative options for students, Florida A&M University tackled the same issue in an educational fashion that included community involvement. At FAMU, they host a Harvest Festival annually that showcases all-natural merchants in the area while educating students and other participants about nutritional food.
There is much more to be done concerning the lack accessibility of to healthy food options for students at A&T. It requires much consideration and heavy involvement within the community and on campus to see changes. A shift in attitudes about food options will lead to a more enriched student body. Let us cultivate a campus culture where we empower our student body to thrive on the sustenance of both body and mind!
Amanda Forrest is a North Carolina A&T junior public relations journalism major from Pembroke Pines, Florida.