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.
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"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!"

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 first introduction of eight.

Hello, my name is Tessa Nasca and I am the Vice President Student Issues of the Trent Central Student Association.

I am on the Food Services Planning Committee representing student voice in the food services planning process.

I am a total foodie at heart, and I am passionate about creating food services at Trent that meet the needs of our students. Ideally, I would love to see an affordable, accessible, sustainable, and delicious food at Trent, and I am excited to be a part of making this possible. Throughout last year and this past semester, I have been talking to students and figuring out what we need in our food system, and now is the time to bring these recommendations to light. This is our chance to build a system that will benefit Trent students for many years to come.

Oh! One more thing... my favourite food... Its a tossup between sushi and quinoa with homemade cacao sauce!