The Cafeteria is currently organized where students are allowed seven meal swipes each day. I was having a discussion with students about the number of meal swipes that we are able to use each day, and I noticed a wide range of opinions. Some students think that seven’s a reasonable amount of swipes, while others oppose and believe that it’s a ridiculous amount. I decided to give my two cents on this topic, and personally, I do not think seven meal swipes are too much. Why you may ask? 

I believe one thing that is misleading when it comes to food intake is what is considered “too much” and “too little”. People often correlate “the correct way of eating” based on how much food they consume when, in reality, that’s all false! Everyone’s body is different, so people could be full for the day off of two meals while others may need three or even four meals to feel full. So why put restrictions on food when not everyone’s appetite is the same? 

Another factor to take into consideration is that we are college students. Not everyone has the luxury to make or afford food, so an extra meal swipe should be available just in case someone wants to run down and grab a snack. I would also like to add that you don’t know what someone’s relationship with food looks like. Implying that going to the cafe seven times a day is “eating too much” can be emotionally triggering or cause insecurities for someone who does go to the caf that many times a day. 

A good example of this is someone who plays sports; athletes are constantly on the move from practice, to class, meetings, school events, the list goes on. So, going to the cafe is most likely normal for someone who is constantly working out and being physically active in some form, compared to someone who does not work out and eats only half of what someone who is in constant training eats. 

Thinking about the cost of seven meal swipes financially, I can understand the concern of having “money wasted” due to not using all seven meal swipes. I think the best (and most obvious) solution would be giving students the opportunity to choose the type of meal plan they want at the beginning of each semester. That way, students who prefer having a full meal plan can still have that available, but it also gives students who want to explore the options of having a 60-block or no meal plan the chance to do so.