Florida A&M University (FAMU) Business and Auxiliary Services (BAS), in partnership with the university’s dining provider, has launched the new Live Well station in the Residence Dining Hall.
During the Fall 2019 semester, FAMU students, faculty and staff responded to the Metz Culinary Management annual dining survey and the company listened. They also responded. Healthy food options and hours of operation were two of the main concerns that led to new and improved services such as Live Well and extended dining hours in the Residence Dining Hall.
College students are choosing healthier lifestyles, which means a growing need for healthier food options on campus. FAMU is dedicated to becoming a healthy campus.
Providing healthier food and beverage options is one of the guidelines in FAMU’s commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) Healthier Campus Initiative.
As the campus’ dining provider, Metz Culinary Management plays a significant role in ensuring those guidelines are met. The Live Well Program offers a delicious variety of healthy entrees and food options that are heart healthy, and lower in fat and calories. Choices such as vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free are also featured in the program.
Live Well food options will not only be available in the Residence Dining Hall, but across campus including the President’s Dining Room, Pizza Express, Poblano’s, the Chopping Block, and the Rattler’s Nest.
“We not only want to make healthier menu options available; we also want to educate and motivate our students/guests to adopt healthier lifestyles,” Metz General Manager Zubair Shahid said following the Feb. 25, ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Michael Smith, Carey Brown, Zubair Shahid, Rebecca Brown, Toby Harley, Chasity Brown, Tripp Goodwin.
“Healthy eating does not mean sacrificing taste. Our culinary team continually develops new recipes and trends that will appeal to practically everyone. We plan to also have cooking demonstrations of healthy food prep techniques that are very popular, tasteful and memorable. Our Nutritics recipe database also provides students/guests with real time updates of full nutritionals and allergens.”
In addition to the Live Well station, the gluten-free station is also available. In order to support those students/guests who have food allergies and intolerances, the gluten-free station offers a variety of menu items daily that naturally do not contain gluten, as well as specifically made gluten-free foods.
Plans are underway for a new online web page where all Live Well recipes across campus will be featured. Additionally, a Nutritics recipe database will also be available soon through QR codes on the Metz digital menus.
For more information, contact Zubair Shahid at (850) 561-2163 or email zshahid@metzcorp.com.
