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Colleges Ditch Trays; Students Learn to Juggle

Diners willing to sacrifice for planet's sake

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 14, 2009 3:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – College students may feel they’ve added juggling to their courseloads as the trayless cafeteria trend picks up steam, the Los Angeles Times reports. The increasingly popular measure, meant to save water and electricity, often meets with a sort of grudging acquiescence. “It's definitely difficult and a little bit inconvenient,” says one student in a precarious situation. “But I like the intentions. The intentions are good.”

Food services company Aramark says 60% of the 600 campuses it services have gone trayless, and rival Sodexo estimates 40% of its clients have switched. Though colleges say the move results in less waste, and that savings pays for better food and amenities, some students aren’t buying it. One Michigan school torpedoed the plan because, well, the students like to use the trays as sleds. In sunny California, a student has a different problem: “The more time I spend on lunch, the less time I spend studying."

The cafeteria tables sure look different without trays.
The cafeteria tables sure look different without trays.   (AP photo)
Getting used to trayless eating.
Getting used to trayless eating.   (AP photo)
A trayless cafeteria.
A trayless cafeteria.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Spudsy
Sep 15, 2009 3:31 AM CDT
yeah, like an old tv dinner.
Jes
Sep 15, 2009 1:33 AM CDT
Fuck Sodexo. It's all shit that has all the nutritional value of Taco Bell or McDonalds with none of the flavor, and if you live on campus you are forced to buy an overpriced meal plan. The only relatively healthy offering they provide is salad that is usually plan iceberg lettuce that's wilted and slimy. For what we have to pay they should get us food of better quality than prison pablum.
memphibian
Sep 14, 2009 10:41 AM CDT
Means you take fewer dishes because they're hard to handle. So take the meat, leave the salad, leave the beans.. BAD idea.

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