Photography student Mia Dawkins finds the prices of food on campus have increased but the portion sizes have gotten smaller.
“Last year, the burgers were huge. Now the patty meat is so much smaller and they switched to thicker French fries, so now they only give you like seven,” says Dawkins. “They raised their prices too, so now I don’t even want to go and eat there.”
Another student, Klara Lacroix-Clermont, says she has also seen a price jump in food between her first and third years at college.
“In my first year, the price was pretty good,” she says. “It was $5.99 for a box of fries. The last time I checked they were $10, but I refuse to go and see the price (now) because I might cry.”
She says it has gotten to the point she will not buy food on campus.
“At this point I just bring food from home, even if there’s sometimes no food at home,” she says.
Buying food on campus is not only costly, according to students. Experts say it is also often less nutritious and they encourage students to make more meals at home.
Sylvia Emmorey, a dietitian and Health Sciences professor at Durham College, says students tend to prioritize school and other activities over food.
“One thing that is not really being prioritized is food,” she says. “Students prioritize their classes, their assignments, appointments, maybe even going to the gym, but they don’t prioritize “‘How do I feed my body and my brain in as little as 15 minutes?’” says Emmorey.
Cooking is often seen as a time-consuming endeavour.
“For a lot of students, they may not have cooked for themselves much before. They really don’t know what to do,” says Emmorey.
To students who may be new to cooking, she recommends easy meals and recipes like breakfast for dinner, a quick stir-fry or a protein rich salad.
Emmorey says another good way to avoid buying food on campus is to prepare meals ahead of time.
“Try and meal prep if you have the time. At the end of the day, after you’ve eaten dinner, that’s the time to think about the next day. So you at least have it in your head,” says Emmorey.
It’s also important for students to prioritize eating foods high in nutritional value.
Emmorey says students should keep their home stocked with foods while also making sure to make meals that are balanced in all the required food groups.
“Keep foods in the house that you like and make sure you’re maintaining balance in every meal,” she says. “Fifty per cent is your fruit or vegetables. Only 25 per cent is your protein, and that can be dairy, beans, legumes, lentils, meat, or fish. And 25 per cent would be whole grains.”
She says lack of proper nutrients can affect not only the physical body but the brain as well leading to fatigue, memory issues, loss of cognitive functions and mood changes.
Emmorey says many people are only thinking about their physical health when they eat, ignoring how important it is to eat nutritious foods that fuel the brain.