When you were going through school, did you ever think about the cafeteria trays? Trays have been a hot topic in university cafeterias recently. Many colleges and universities have been going trayless over the past couple of years. In fact, several of them started their 'no tray' policy on Earth Day this year.
There are two main arguments for going trayless: it leads to less food waste by students as well as less water waste in cleaning the trays. According to CNN, colleges in drought-stricken states are more concerned about the water waste. Fifty to 60% percent of colleges served by Aramark are getting rid of trays, and in a study conducted by the comapny food waste was reduced by 25% to 30% when trays were taken out of the picture.
Wasted Food has been covering this trend for quite some time, and has seen a lot of the backlash to the new trayless movement. I can understand the inconvenience the students face in all of this, but I personally think that finding ways to prevent waste trumps any individual complaints. What's your take on the trayless movement?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
19-01-2008 @ 11:27AM
yuri elkaim said...
I'm sure what good getting rid of trays is going to do???
If I were them, I'd be more concerned about getting rid of the "garbage" food that is being served all the across the nation.
Imagine how much better students could perform if they actually ate well!
Yuri
http://www.EatingforEnergy.ca
39-01-2008 @ 1:54PM
gentlemoose said...
That REALLY smacks of not seeing the big picture. The use of (per one of the above links) 200 gallons of water per 1000 meals served is a literal drop in the bucket compared to other acts that would have FAR broader impacts, such as using local growers, eating seasonally, etc. And I have a hell of a hard time understanding Sodexo and Aramark's backing of this plan in non-prix-fixe cafeterias. The idea sees harmless but ultimately pointless; a feel-good show of activism by some colleges and universities.
4Awful idea. This concept was recently covered in the State News, Michigan State's student paper. Students universally hate the idea. Most of us are getting in and trying to get out as fast as possible. Taking trays away? Doesn't help matters at all, especially when most of us are juggling a backpack, bag or something similar.
Also, I take issue with your statement of "I personally think that finding ways to prevent waste trumps any individual complaints". So no matter how many people complain, just because you think it's a grand idea it should happen? It seems to me you're not being very open to the opinions of others on how *their* world should work. I'm all for being environmentally friendly but if a population truly doesn't want to adopt something like this, they shouldn't be *forced into it*.
5I am a clumsy, awkward student and I fail to see the logic in getting rid of trays, especially consider the majority of college dining halls are designed around the notion that students use trays to get their food.
Not to mention that people dropping food because they don't have a tray certainly constitutes food waste. I can see what you're saying about individual complaints, but really, getting rid of trays might solve a problem, but it creates another one: how are students going to carry food, drinks, and silverware? Multiple trips are inconvenient and a hassle for everyone. You should be able to streamline the dining hall experience as much as possible, not make it more difficult for students.
6The whole point of the tray system is so you can efficiently slide it while putting your food on there. Getting rid of it just seems to be causing more inconvenience than it solves. Then again, it doesn't surprise me that colleges are switching over, and not for the bulls**t reason of saving water hence saving the environment. No, it's saving water with no intervention needed by them so as to save money.
8Our AYCE cafeteria did away with trays. Before this, it was creepy posters with carrots glaring at you menacingly, reminding you to eat everything you got.
I don't like the lack of trays, because if I'm in a hurry, I have to make around five trips, since I never seem to get a full plate at any one place, just bits and pieces here and there.
And woe if you don't like something, now you have to balance 15 dishes and two cups to the one tray drop off, without spilling that slice of pie. Maybe it'd be better if they had more than one area, instead of the one that's usually at least a half a block away from anyone eating.
I think they're secretly training us to be waitstaff, so they can make us work for them for peanuts.
10Kinda silly in my opinion-- the trays are USEFUL. Why not get rid of items around campus that could be easily banished? Ie- two million flyers all saying the same thing, plastic cups, plastics or STYROFOAM food packaging at the smaller cafs...
When you are trying to bring a drink, salad, main meal, silverware, napkins and perhaps a dessert or fruit or- anything more than two items...including notebooks, books, or a bag--across the whole cafe to possibly sit the farthest away--a tray is a neccesity. When you only have about 40 minutes for said meal to wait in line, get the food, choose a seat and relax for a moment to enjoy your meal...getting up back and forth to ferry items is ridiculous.
11Cafeterias usually present individual food items on individual plates - so to get a meat/beans/fish serving, vegetable serving, bread/pasta/rice serving, and a drink - you need a tray, 5 hands, or multiple trips. Instead of focusing on the tray, they should look at the number of dishes they use.
139-03-2008 @ 8:03AM
Keith J. Mohrhoff said...
Trayless is fine--if you are being served at you table. Otherwise, how are you supposed to carry everything? Let's see, a plate for your entree, a cup for your beverage--each requiring one hand--God forbid you get a side (like soup and a sandwich and maybe chips?) Then, there is salt, pepper, condements and napkins--are these on the table?--Probably not. Lastly, there is the juggling act you have to do to pay for all of this--even the card/keyfob methods require an extra hand which you won't have because you didn't have a TRAY to put all your stuff on!! I've worked at colleges and I would be mad as hell if something so simple as getting a meal and bringing it to my table were complicated because some knucklehead wanted to save money by getting rid of the trays!! Those of us who eat food from a cafeteria don't do so because it is our preferred cuisine. We do so because it is affordable and covenient (i.e., we don't have time to get away from work long enought eat.) They want ot consider expenses, I'll give them a few to consider. A) the same amount of work--i.e., selling food to students, faculty and staff, will now take longer because the lack of trays slows the process (remember all are now juggling), B) the increase congestion as customers which should have paid for--and departed with their meals already are still there when others arrive. This could lead to the cafeteria losing money as it become less popular for would-be diners. C) When people are carrying too much stuff the potential for spills increases--as does the exposure to liability. I ask: Where would the savings be then? As far as water conservation, they should what they do on smaller seagoing vessels--water recirculation for washwater.
14Ok what about the handicap people that go to college that sit in wheel chairs? What a mess for anyone, College is enough stress why make lunch stressful?? Most of the time you eat and you get to your next class or if you have time thats a great time to relax, not figure out how to juggle your food to your table, then you drop it and then theres the waste of food.
17No.
Just no.
They did this at my college when I was an undergrad. I appreciate the trying to save the environment part, I think they should even be optional.... but the fact is, when I had to run back and forth for each part of my meal I almost missed my next class... it takes a cr@ap load of time to get meals when you don't have a tray. Not to mention, while you might save water not washing the trays, washing the floor because of all the dropped dishes probably wasted a lot more. Dishes were too hot to carry and ended up splattered everywhere.
It's a good idea, but a flawed one.
189-02-2008 @ 3:43PM
HotSexKitten said...
I have a wild idea... How about go to wal-Mart or somewhere like that and buy a tray and take it with you to school.... I have seen cafeteria like trays and they are very cheap....
19I think that this is a good idea for a couple different reasons. i am a cook so know about the cost of wasted food. if it helps to keep food waste down, then great. I have also worked in a cafeteria when i was in college and those trays use a lot of water when washing them. This knew rule is good for controlling conaservation and consumption. Every little bit helps.
20I think it's a good natured idea, but kind of silly in my opinion. I mean, without trays, what will college kids use to slide down the hills on snowy days? Trays aren't just used for cafeteria food, you know - college kids find many ingenious ways to reuse them - and isn't that one of the 3 R's? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? It seems to me that trays are actually environmentally friendly.
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