Analysis of Meal Plan at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Campus - Term Paper Example

Analysis of Meal Plan at ERAU Your name:   Course name:         Professors’ name: Date: Table of Content 1.0 Abstract pg.2 2.0 Introduction pg.3 3.0 Methodology pg.3 3.1 Primary sources pg.3 3.2 Secondary Source pg.3 3.3 Limitations pg.3 4.0 Facts pg.5 5.0 Analysis pg.5 6.0 Conclusions/ Recommendations pg.7 7.0 References pg.8 1.0 Abstract Campus students have poor nutritional or eating habits and often show at-risk weight control behaviors; yet; health promotion efforts on college’s campuses often target other risks behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use. In addition, between lecturers, exams, essays and extracurricular activities, it’s hard enough for college students to find enough time to shower, never mind buy grocery, plan, prepare healthy meals. For most college students, it’s not uncommon to have fostered first-name relationships with delivery guy at favorite takeouts. For those students residing in campuses they prefer meal plans as the best option compared to cooking their own meals or ordering fast foods. Meal plans in most college campuses have been designed to save college students from hassle of cooking their own meals or buying food from outside campuses which are expensive. College meal plans usually take one of several forms. College students may be entitled to number of “meals” per semester; college students can enter the cafeteria a pre-set number of times and eatto their heart’s content, or college students may have similar to a debit account, where they are charged based on what they buy at campus cafeteria; each time students eat, their account is debited until the balance reaches zero, or college campuses may offer a combination plan (some meal credits, some debit). The prices for food vary from campus to campus and there are different factors that contribute to such discrepancies. This paper will outline the differentiation of college students with meal plans and those college students without meal plans. Further, the paper will discuss the importance of meal plans to college students. In relationship to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) campus, the paper will highlights the importance of campus meal plan to its students with the help of primary and secondary data or information. 2.0 Introduction Nutrition education is now an established and urgent health promotion priority for campus for all age groups. In campus settings, however, other health issues such as drug, tobacco and alcohol use have often taken precedence in campus policy due to consequences for these specific risk behaviors. But despite the importance of adopting good eating practices, college students tend to involve themselves in unhealthy eating practices, including skipping meals, unhealthy dieting, low intake of vegetables and fruits, high intake of fast foods. “An important consideration for campus meal plan is that college students are at a crucial stage in their development as they transition from parental control over lifestyle behaviors to assuming responsibility for their own health choices” (Anderson, Shapiro & Lundgren, 2003). Various studies suggest that campus students have minimal knowledge of healthy eating practices and their nutritional requirements. Cousineau, Goldstein & Franko (2004), in a study of campus students, reported that campus students have low baseline knowledge of food nutrients and food labels. Further, it was found that campus students knew ‘virtually nothing about expenditure and energy metabolism (Cowdery, Konkel & Wildenhaus, 2005). Each college offers its own unique meal plan options. Originally campus meal plans were considered to be income generating projects for colleges and also meal plans were seen to be effective way for students to save money on food costs in colleges. In most cases, campus meal plans have been seen to be convenient for new students and transferred students and their parents, for simple reasons that it saves students from hassle of cooking their own meals or buying food from outside campuses which are expensive. Therefore, the target audiences in this research paper are students that don’t know the goodness of college meal plan, or how college meal plan can help them save on the cost food. While, the purpose of this research report is to create awareness within students living on campus and those student residing outside campus regarding meal selection that are well suited according to their needs and requirements. 3.0 Methodology 3.1 Primary sources A random purposive sampling technique was deployed in this study. Purposive because only students with certain characteristics within the sampling frame was included in the sample. This therefore means that the accuracy level of the study will increase because the sampling is actually done in people with the desired attributes (Patton, 1990). A random purposive sampling technique was applied in the research study. The survey was conducted over summer in two campuses: Daytona Beach, Florida Campus and Daytona Beach Campus. A total of 120 students participated in the research survey, and the questions asked in the survey were: (1) whether or not they have enrolled into their respective campus’ meal plan program; (2) If the answer to the first question was a “YES”, did they like the meal plan program; (3) would they recommend the meal plan program to other students; (4) Does meal plan program saves on student’s time and money; and lastly, (5) Does meal plan program saves on student’s money. The research study employed the used of face to-face interview in collecting data from the respondents. This was suitable since there was an opportunity for the respondents to seek clarification from the interviewer hence at the end of the session the data collected did not have any elements of confusion or mistaken meanings/ambiguity. 3.2 Secondary Source Using the University library, I found different articles and journals that provice valuable research on college meal plans. These articles and journals that were used in this research paper include: 1. A 2003 article by Anderson et el discuss importance of meal plan on college students. The article provides important information that would help institution to implement meal plan programs. Also, how best students can save on food money. 2. A 2012 article by Tamara Krause, gives an insight on meal plan on freshmen students. This article has provided insightful information to the research paper about meal plans in other colleges. 3. An article from 2012 by Dan Reimold that explain college students point of view. This article tries to explain how students are being forced to enrolled into meal plan programs against their wish and how they felt about on the same. 3.3 Limitations Biggest problem that I encounter while carrying out the research survey was lack of adequate information on the college meal plan. Another limitation that I encounter in the research was availability of time; the time allocated for the whole research paper was short and due to the fact that the survey was conducted in summer which has only 8 week. Travelling was also a problem from one campus to another. 4.0 Facts Fig 1, Survey on food at ERAU Campuses Figure 1 represent the outcome of research survey carried out at the ERAU campuses: Daytona Beach, Florida Campus and Daytona Beach Campus over the course of summer 2013. All college students participated in the research survey was living and not living at ERAU campuses. The individual who participated in the research survey were 120 students; as mentioned earlier residing in campus. Many factors were considered during the formulation of the questions in the questionnaire, such as quality of meals, price(s), quantity, and so forth. 4.1 Do you buy food from cafeteria? If NO, can you explain why? 70 participants responded “NO” to this question which represents 58.3 per cent of students, both with and without campus meal plans, stated that they didn’t like the food that was being served at the campus cafeterias. 25 per cent of student answered there was limited food choices at the cafeteria. 17 per cent of student didn’t like the food that was being served at the campus cafeteria. 25 per cent of student stated that food was extreme expensive. 10 per cent stated food was not enough and lastly, 17 per cent preferred food outside campus. Price of Meals Fig 2 Price of meals 4.2 How much do you spend for a meal? With regards to this question, 60 participants involved in the research survey mention spending 5 dollars or less for a meal outside campus cafeteria. As compared campus meal, this amount is less than the average price for meal at the campus cafeteria. 30 students were found to spend between 5-10 dollars; this amount was equivalent to the average meal that is being offered at the campus cafeteria. 15 students spend between 10015 dollars per meal, while 10 students spend between 15-20 dollars per meal. Only 5 students were able to spend more than 20 dollars per meal. 5.0 Analysis 5.1 Students who have meal plans In the analysis of meal plans that is offered at ERAU campus. I found that students were being forced to part with approximately 7 to 10 dollars for a normal meal. However a student can be able to buy similar meal at a cheaper price outside campus. In addition, if a student did not use his daily meals, then at the end of the week it will be wasted; it cannot be transferred to another week. For example, “Hercules” meal plan has 21 meals per week at 200 dollars, if a student used a total of 15 meals in that week, the other 4 meals will be wasted and that means a student would have lost 38 dollars. For a student without meal plan can make good use of 38 dollars for other important things such as investing in books. Two Meals per day Three meals per day Ithaca College $2,882 $2,882 Rutgers University $2,035 $2,190 SUNY Potsdam $2,185 $2,250 West Chester University $ 1,189 $ 1281 Yale University $ 1,189 1, 281 ERAU University $2,355 $3,355 Fig 3, Meal plans for other institutions Landes (2011) argued that the prices for the meal plan vary from college to college but they are expensive and most college students don’t take full advantage of their meal plans. In most colleges across the United States, meal plans are expensive to students. As compared to other colleges, ERAU’s meal plan is also expensive. For example, Top Gun Jet meal plan cost $2,355 per semester at ERAU campuses; this cost is similar to Rutgers University at $2,035 per semester and SUNY Potsdam at $2,185 per semester (Landes, 2011). Most institution of higher learning offers a choice between a three-meal-per-day and a two-meal-per-day plan. There may be additional options offering fewer meals, and the plans also often different combinations of flex points and meal points. Therefore students should choose meal plan that matches their habits (Landes, 2011). For example, if a student is not a breakfast eater or a night person, the three-meal-per-day plan will be a waste of money to that particular student, assuming the meal plan costs more than the other meal plans (Landes, 2011). A student will not start eating breakfast or dinner just because the meal plan states that he must eat three meals per day (Landes, 2011). 5.2 Students without meal plans According to the research survey, college student who were not enrolled to meal plan were benefiting more and spending their money more wisely. Although most universities and colleges requires their freshmen students to purchase a meal plan and believe that meal plan will be beneficial for students because it can ensure students spend money on food and not on other things (Franko, Mintz & Villapiano. 2005). However, students should not be forced to purchase meal plans; they should be given a free will to choose on what to want to eat and how they want to spend their money (Franko, Mintz & Villapiano. 2005). Students without meal plans have been found to have more choices and selection of food. Many freshmen student have been found to be complaining about their respective colleges offering very limited variety of food. At ERAU Campuses there are few alternatives available for students to choose and can easily get ill of eating on campus (Landes, 2011). Not to mention, most foods that universities and colleges do provide are junk food with high calories and fat. However, student still decide to eat at eat on campus because of the meal plan. Thus, having meal plan definitely is attributable to students' unhealthy eating habit, which may cause them to suffer health problems in the future (Franko, Mintz & Villapiano. 2005). 5.3 Students Purchasing Meal Plans Fig 4, ERAU Meal Plans The number of students who have enrolled for meal plan at ERAU campuses is not very significant, except for freshmen students which is mandatory for them to purchase meal plans. From the research survey Sonic Cruiser meal plan and Hercules meal plan registered low number of students who were enrolled to this program. The total number of students that have purchased this type of a program is 10. The reasons why these two programs registered low number of students is because there are premier plans that are out of reach of many students. Many students were found to be using Red Baron meal plan and Cargo Carrier meal plan. The reasons for this is because those two plans are pocket friendly for students. 6.0 Conclusions/ Recommendations There are some benefits to buy a meal plan. A meal plan in campus restaurants or cafeteria will give a student opportunity to meet other students. A student may not meet as many people if he or she may eat in their dorm room every day. Also, with a meal plan, a student is guaranteed to have balance diet food. And finally, meal plans are convenient. The food is already prepared for students and most cafeterias are located close to the main traffic areas on campus. However, many students waste their funds on meal plans because they don’t think about it. Students who care about their financial future are aware of what to spend and find a ways on how to reduce these costs. Meal plans make it possible for universities and colleges to overcharge their students, so students should look at all their options and make the best choices, and increase their awareness of the costs of meal plans on campus, off campus and cooking. Therefore, students should not be forced to purchase meal plan. The planning and control issues should be sought and measured out in an effectual manner to have better options selected for the students as in case of the ERAU campus. Meal plans such as point system and monetary ones can be introduced for instance for those students that need convenient choices as well as an easier way of understanding their year round dining system. 7.0 References Anderson, D.A, Shapiro, J.R, & Lundgren, J.D. (2003). The freshman year of college as a critical period for weight gain: An initial evaluation. Eating Behavior. 2003;4:363–367. Cousineau, T. M, Goldstein, M & Franko DL (2004). A collaborative approach to nutrition education for college students. Journal of American College Health. ;53:79–84. Cowdery, J, Konkel J, & Wildenhaus K. (2005). The emerging use of tailoring in health promotion. The Art of Health Promotion, 6(1):1–7. Franko, D.L, Mintz, L.B, & Villapiano M, (2005). Food, mood, and Attitude: Reducing risk for eating disorders in college women. Health Psychology. 2005;24:567–578. Landes, L (2011). How a College Meal Plan Wastes Money. Consumerism Commentary. Retrieved from Patton, M.Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. Newbury Park London New Delhi: SAGE Publications Read More