VI. Food Assessment Research: University of Minnesota, Morris
Brynn Stember, MHE student leader, sets up the Dining Services Food Waste Study Campus Dining Hall Food Waste Study: UMM eliminated Dining Hall trays in 2009 following the major dining services facility renovation. This change was part of a strategy to reduce food waste and overconsumption following the example of successful tray-less pilots at universities across the country. MHE student leaders and Dining Services leaders launched a food waste study during the last six weeks of fall semester to analyze expenditures for food discarded by students and encourage a further reduction in food waste. Edible food waste from the Dining Hall was weighed and recorded after each meal. Sodexo determined a dollar value of $3.30 per pound of edible food discarded. Food waste study results were posted at the end of fall semester. A total of 6,483 pounds of edible foods were discarded. At $3.30 per pound, the discarded food had a total value of $22,582 for the six-week time period of the study. The average weekly food waste was $3,764. Morris Healthy Eating and Dining Services will continue food waste tracking in 2010. As the amount of edible food waste decreases, Dining Services will use the savings to provide a greater variety of fresh fruit in the Dining Hall.
Turtle Mountain Cafe Turtle Mountain Cafe (TMC), in UMM’s Student Center serves students, faculty, staff, and community members. The cafe offers made to order meals, daily specials, and a variety of a la carte items, snacks, and beverages. The cafe also provides board plan breakfast buffets on weekdays. Students, faculty, and staff can purchase Dining Dollars for discounted cash-free TMC purchases through their U-Cards. Turtle Mountain Cafe Hours Monday to Thursday
7:15 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday
7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
Closed
Key findings— • Four of five Turtle Mountain Cafe diners rate their overall satisfaction as good to excellent, with the largest group offering a rating of very good. • Four out of five rate TMC’s healthy menu options as good to excellent. • Price is the biggest area of concern for TMC respondents. Only one in three rate TMC pricing as good to excellent; a similar number rate pricing as poor.
MORRIS HEALTHY EATING INITIATIVE
75