The University’s Food Services Department is considering making a change that might not go over well with students and faculty.
Campus Dining currently is investigating whether pre-made salads would be more effective than salad bars, which currently exist on campus.
“This is just an operational thing, looking at the possibility of changing,” said David Heidke, resident district manager at LSU Dining.
There was no particular event that prompted Campus Dining to begin looking at changing the salad bars, Heidke said.
“Right now we are just reviewing it,” Heidke said. “Nothing has been determined yet.”
Some students and faculty said they would not be as satisfied with pre-made salads.
Heidke did not give any specifics about what the new salads would include, but students said they assume the salads would not be as good.
“I might not like everything they put in the salad or I might want to add extra stuff,” said Lynette Orange, a pre-med freshman. “Also, I might not get enough dressing if it is pre-packaged.”
David Kirshner, an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, said he eats at on-campus salad bars about three times per week.
“I eat salads pretty often, but I won’t buy those little salads,” Kirshner said. “I can get twice as much stuff when I make my own, for less money.”
Kirshner’s concerns go beyond just being able to fix a salad he prefers.
He suspects the price of labor to prepare the salad would force an increase in prices. He also said other things might affect the campus community.
“I think the net result of switching would be people spending their money on junk-food more — nutritionally, students would begin to eat less healthy,” Kirshner said.
The speed of service and the consistency of the product are two factors that may influence the change.
“Nothing has been definitely determined yet,” Heidke said. “We will know something later this semester.”