Students Speak Series #8

Did your expectations of food services at Trent differ from the reality? Explain.

"Food services at Trent are drastically different from the reality. The food is extremely unhealthy and the nutritional information is not available for students. Processed foods cause disease in the body which lead to obesity. Is this the future we want to create for students at Trent? Healthy food options and proper nutrition info should be the main focus! Fuel your body with good healthy food and you will feel better, achieve more, and succeed. Its time for a healthy change!"

 "The food made me feel tired and crappy. I definitely could not keep up a nutritious diet while eating on campus my first year."

Students Speak Series #7

 Has food at Trent impacted your academic experience? Explain. 

 "Much of the food on camps is not health conscious and leaves students feeling sluggish and sometimes sick rather than energized. Energy is essential to active learning. It would be nice if healthy options included more than sandwiches and salad."

 "To do well in class, I need to eat nutrient dense healthy foods that I cannot get from Aramark."

Students Speak Series #6  

Has food at Trent impacted your health? Explain.

"In my 1st year on campus (in residence) I constantly craved proper and fresh options, while sinking into the monotony of crappy food. Eventually, I gained 30-40 pounds, which has been difficult to lose... The food was the main reason I moved off campus."

"The way people with food intolerances are treated is terrible. I spent two years in rez and I would NEVER do it again or reccomend it to anyone because the food facilities are not up to the standard for those with food allergies. I considered cahnging schools becuase of the food. I moved off rez because the food was so bad." 

Students Speak Series #5  

What are your thoughts on the cost of food at Trent? 

 "The cost of food at Trent speaks nothing of the environmental and social injustices that occur as a result of the farming systems in place that [our current food services] support. I feel like the link(s) between the consequences of production and marketing the product are hidden because if they were revealed, the consumers would spend their money elsewhere. I want more transparency and available consumer knowledge."

"In my first year, I was forced to buy a meal plan... and eat food I don't feel ethically good about consuming. Eating is something you have to do every day and it is important to feel good about what you eat."

Students Speak Series #4  

Has your expereince of food services at Trent effected your overall Trent experience? Explain. 

 "Being vegetarian, it is extremely difficult to eat on campus. While fast food is always readily available, truly fresh fuitis/ vegetables are hard to come by."

"Definitely. The food on campus is over-priced and there isn't enough selection. I beleive students should benefit from the money made off of food sales."

Students Speak Series #3 

 Did your expectaitons of food services at Trent differ from the reality? Explain.
.
"Considering I have Celiac Disease, coming to Trent was disappointing for my food needs. I'm understanding, because I have to be, about accessibility, but Aramark's total disregard for this is astonishing. I sincerely thank [alternative providers on campus] for their understanding, for healthy students and healthy environments! "

Students Speak Series #2

 Has your experience of food services at Trent effected your overall Trent experience? Explain.

"Everything at Trent is so green and eco-friendly, and then there is [the food]. The food is deep-fried fast food that doesn't nourish the body or the mind. Trent's [food services] expose students to the horrid world of capitalism and a money-based society. TRENT CAN DO BETTER!"

Our Next Open Forum - Food Service Management Structure and Community Involvement in Decision Making

Trent Food Service Review Committee hosts Open Forum Number Three –

Food Service Management Structure and Community Involvement in Decision Making

February 14^th

 1pm to 2 pm

 Bata Library, AJM Smith Room (107.2)

We want your input!

What is our current model, what can change and what should stay the same? 

Community – how are they involved going forward?

How does this topic factor into our future Food Services for you? 

#ourfood

Introducing the Trent Food Service Review Committee

Greetings!

My name is Phil Grills and I am a fourth year student here at Trent University. I am currently majoring in Psychology and Anthropology, and will be graduating this Spring.

My role on the Food Services Planning Committee is to represent all students in residence using the flex program. I am currently the President of Otonabee College so it is my duty to represent the student body in any way that I can. To the table, I bring the concerns and ideas that many students in residence, and those who have transitioned out of residence, have in regards to the food services here at Trent.

What I hope to see come from this committee is a healthy, affordable and accommodating food program to which students are happy to support. Student mental and physical health is very important to me and I believe that by incorporating a food program that encourages and provides healthy meals. After all, a healthy student is a happy student!

I can't say that I have a favourite food but I do enjoy a night out with friends to enjoy some sushi, or Italian. Nothing beats a good old traditional Italian pizza!

Students Speak Series #1

Hello Trent Foodies!

As a part of the TCSA's ongoing mission to get student voices heard in the food services planning process, we would like to introduce the "Students Speak Series". Three times per week, I (Tessa) will post student stories of food services at Trent University. These stories have been collected through the TCSA's new "A Raw Deal" postcard campaign that launched in early February. The stories that appear on this blog are selected at random from the student responses. If you have a story you would like to tell, drop by the TCSA office or find one of our volunteers in the cafeteria to fill out a postcard! To learn more about the postcard campaign or these stories, contact Tessa at vpissues@trentcentral.ca


Has food at Trent impacted your health? Explain

"It has impacted my mental well-being and spiritual well-being. The disconnection between the land, our provider, Mother Earth, and the food does not support my values of appreciation and respect."  

Introducing the Trent Food Service Review Committee

Each week a new member of the committee will introduce themselves in their own words.  This is the fifth introduction of eight.

Hello, my name is Lori Johnston.

I am the Director of Conference and Hospitality Services.  I have worked at Trent for 12 years through our conference operation as well as a staff member and have had much experience with our Campus Food Services.

I am looking forward to the year ahead working with the food committee and our Trent community to gather feedback as we prepare the RFP for food service.

My favorite food: Nothing better than fresh home made desserts, except maybe lasagna with ooey gooey cheese!

Summer Conference and Hospitality Operations and Food Services

Summer Conference and Hospitality Operations and Food Services

Did you know we hire several student staff members each summer to assist with conferences, weddings, academic camps?  One of their first comments when they begin working with us is "I had know idea all of this activity happened during the summer."  I expect that is a fairly common comment with staff, faculty and students when it comes to summer food services as well.

How are food services different from May to August compared to September to April?

As an ancillary operation the primary function of our department is to bring business to campus including weddings, banquets, conferences, day meetings, academic camps, etc., all of which require food services while on campus. While board plans are not available during the summer, primarily because the number of students living in residence is very low at this time of year, there are certainly food services operating.

What we offer to our guests:

Conference Dining menus: Available to our groups of 25 people or more, Aramark offers our guests a 7-day rotational menu which offers great variety of hot food items and economical pricing. Dining Halls are reserved per event basis.

Catered menus: These varied menus offer our guests elegant plated and buffet options.  Dining halls are reserved for private use for these events.

Catertrax online menus: these services remain available for internal functions during the summer as well as for our external clients.

How we operate:

All food service for external groups is managed through our department. 

As our client bookings vary in terms of length of stay, the number of people in their group, the time between bookings and facility requirements, the volume of food service business also fluctuates greatly during the summer.

While Gzowski's Robinson Hall has the most frequent group-usage during the summer, the Great Hall is a popular location for weddings and corporate client banquets. Otonabee College and Lady Eaton College Dining Halls are used for groups staying in these colleges or when larger groups require multiple dining halls.

Working with Aramark we can provide food services for groups as large as 1000 people on campus. Some of our past groups have been served using multiple dining halls where for other events we have providing all food outdoors.

Our clients request from our food service much of what our students, staff and faculty do during the rest of the year - sustainable, local, fresh, cultural foods.  An advantage during the summer is that the growing season offers a wider variety of foods which can make it easier to meet these requests.

Food services: consistency, availability, reliability and flexibility are all key aspects which allow us to entice new business and maintain returning clients, business which provides revenue to the University Operating budget. 

For more information on Trent's Conference & Hospitality Services please visit our website: www.meetattrent.com.