Nelson Dining Hall and Nagel Dining Hall are the two main dining locations on the University of Denver's campus, serving hundreds of students daily. While options have improved in recent years due to commitments to sources more sustainable and healthy "real food", convenience stores and advertisements still heavily promote unhealthy snacks and sweets. Many students find it difficult to easily access fresh and healthy food options, especially on the go, with processed foods dominating campus choices outside of dining halls. The university and food provider Sodexo recognize the need to further improve access to healthy alternatives for students.

1. Nelson Dining Hall, located
centrally on the University
of Denver’s (DU) campus,
feeds hundreds of students
each day.
Serving hot and prepared
meals that are provided by
Sodexo, students have a
variety of eating options,
but not all of them are
healthy.

2. Sodexo, DU’s food provider, has recently made strides in their food
sourcing and dining options, even signing the “Real Food Challenge”, which
shows Sodexo and DU’s commitment to more sustainable and healthy food
options on campus.

3. According to the Real
Food Challenge, “real
food” is food that
nourishes producers,
consumers,
communities and the
earth.
DU and Sodexo’s goal
is to provide 12% “real
food” on campus by
the end of 2016.

4. Nagel Dining Hall, another
location for DU students to
eat on campus, opened a new
dining option for students in
2015.
“Simple Servings” is the first
of its kind on DU’s campus,
focusing on serving healthy
meals and meals that can be
eaten by students with
allergies or intolerances.

5. “Salsa Rico”, which is located next to “Simple Servings”, is the most
frequented food station in Nagel Dining Hall.

6. Cases of baked goods and sugary treats line the wall opposite of “Simple
Servings” in Nagel Dining Hall, tantalizing student’s taste buds.

7. Walking through
DU’s campus,
students can find
advertisements for
unhealthy treats and
sweets, but it is
nearly impossible to
find a piece of fresh
fruit on campus.

8. “The C-Stores are much less healthy than the dining halls. In the dining
halls, for the most part, things are house-made. But in the C-Stores,
everything is packaged,” said DU freshman Ali Brehm.
C-Stores, or campus convenience stores, only sell packaged food and
unhealthy snacks, making it difficult for students to make healthy choices
when they are on the go.

9. According to an article written
by NBC News in 2007, 95% of
college-aged men and 70% of
college-aged women consume
too much sodium, which is
attributed to high consumption
of processed foods.
At one of DU’s two C-Store
locations, chips and processed
food line the walls, limiting the
choices students have if they
want to find something to eat
that’s healthy.

10. The most popular breakfast station and breakfast food option in Nelson
Dining Hall, the “Omelet Bar”, gives students a healthier alternative to
processed cereals and syrupy pancakes.

11. In Nelson Dining Hall, Denver students have access to sugary cereals at any
hour of the day, which serves as an unhealthy, yet go to snack for many.

12. A DU student considered this plate to be his “balanced meal of the
day”, which included French fries with a side of salad.

13. During lunch hours at Nelson Dining Hall, the salad bar is a common option
for many students, but foods like pizza and mac and cheese are never far.

14. “I think that things have been changing and that we are on the right course
of action in regards to food in our dining halls, but I also think there could
be additional venues added that provide very healthy options for our
students,” said DU senior Jaser Alsharhan.

15. Recently, Sodexo has been trying to increase healthy
eating options, stating that they are “dedicated to
preparing food you [DU students] can feel good about.”

16. “I just wish I could run into a dining hall or a C-Store at any
time of the day and grab a piece of fruit. That’s really all I
want,” said DU junior Amanda Kriss.