Food Options on Campus

OPINION BY JENSEN PUCKETT

FOOD OPTIONS ON CAMPUS

HOW ARE STUDENTS WITH FOOD ALLERGIES SUPPOSED TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES?

I started at Long Beach in the Fall of 2020 and whenI came to campus, I knew it wouldn’t be as lively as when I had toured in 2019, but I told myself it would get better as we reopened. When I lived in the dormsin the fall of 2020, it was a ghost town and I didn’t know what restaurants would come back. Later that semester, The Outpost reopened. Students were excited because we could finally go do something on campus. It wasn’t much and honestly, the options on what to eat were limited, especially since I have a gluten allergy, but it was something, I guess.

Fall 2021. I finally had classes in person and was told places would start opening up on campus again. I couldn’t wait to be able to go to places like The Nugget and Starbucks in the University Dining Plaza (UDP) in between classes, and I would love to be able to get a sandwich, but I’m gluten-free and unfortunately, Subway has no gluten-free bread. What on campus is gluten-free that I can eat? A salad from Subway, some fruit and select bars from the convenience stores, fries from Carl’s Jr., a smoothie, and a few things from El Pollo Loco. There are not a lot of options for people that have allergies or other dietary restrictions, which is outrageous for an “inclusive” campus.

There were and still are little to no food options on campus. Don’t get me wrong, there is the “caffeine lab” that sells Starbucks coffee, but it’s like a convenience store that sells coffee and not an actual Starbucks. Of course, I didn’t live here when there were better options, but I did some research, asked around and looked back at what I saw when I toured. Did you know that the UDP used to have Panda Express, a real Starbucks, Squeeze Me, OPA! Greek & OLE! Tacos, The Beach Walk Cafe, and then of course the most renowned Nugget Grill & Pub right next to it? Imagine being able to get those food options anytime you want while on campus.

Also, having a cafe and juice bar provided healthier options if you weren’t in the mood for caffeine and tacos. Instead of using the UDP for actual dining, the school is using it as a “Beach Kitchen” to teach the occasional “how to eat healthy” class. Most people don’t want to learn how to cook vegan meals, they want to be able to grab them easily between classes. I feel like all I’ve heard since we have been back on campus are students complaining about how our food options suck. We make complaints and tell ASI what we want and nothing happens. There are promises of change, yet they don’t plan on even starting the changes for a few years. We want change that will affect us now. There is the occasional Mediterranean food truck outside of the USU, but there is not nearly enough promotion for when food trucks come. Some people don’t know that they’re on campus. I don’t think I would know anything about it if I didn’t work on the first floor of the USU in the 22 West Offices.

Let's look at what we have currently in the USU. We have the Corner Market, Subway, El Pollo Loco, Carl’s Jr., Sbarro, Robeks, and Coffee Bean. The USU and the UDP are right next to each other. Our resources have been cut in half. Also, Coffee Bean does not really have actual food options. A bar and some yogurt can only get me so far. Why are we paying so much in tuition to not be heard for what food we actually want?

Of all the places on campus to get food, including the three convenience stores and The Outpost, El Pollo Loco is the only one that accepts EBT cards. There are so many students that live off of food stamps on the LBSU campus, myself included, and only one option to use it. I don’t get why I can use my card at Subways all over the state, but not at the one on campus. Also, when you look online, LBSU leads students to think that EBT cards are accepted at convenience stores on campus with outdated information on their own website. Long Beach has got to do better. Firstly, I don’t want to eat El Pollo Loco every single day that I’m on campus. Secondly, I want healthier options. Of course, I can pack my own snacks and lunches, but that is using a lot of food I could be using when I am actually home. I’m so busy with classes and working and extra-curricular activities that I don’t really have time to cook and make whole meals before I go to class in the morning. If I could use my EBT card at Subway, it would be nice because at least I could switch things up and get a good, veggie-filled salad every so often.

We need better food options. We need more variety.We need more affordable options. There is so much we could ask for and of course, change does not just happen overnight, but we do need to see it sooner rather than later. I’m tired of hearing all of these plans and promises, but statements followed by “in five years.” We don’t need everything all at once, but the least the school can do is give us the Nugget back.

I want to finish this up by talking about what some might call the most iconic part of LBSU. The Nugget Grill and Pub. There isn’t anything I have heard more about than the Nugget. I have heard legendary stories of their food and the energy that comes from the building. I have heard about being able to grab a beer, if you’re 21 or older of course, and listen to some music. It seems like the Nugget Grill and Pub is one thing that unifies so many Long Beach students before us. It is something that could unite our student body once again.

ILLUSTRATION BY ELIZABETH DELGADO TOLDEO