Free Essay On Access To Food And Dietary Intake

As a resident of California, I enjoy access to grocery stores that sell whole foods. I consider my diet to be normal. However, my fairly-normal diet could change immensely as the result of a geographic change.
Doubtless, I am a busy college student who must balance the demands of a large course load, which includes attending lectures, studying, homework, and exams. In addition, my life demands attention to finances, just like other people. However, as a student, my personal budget and spending allowances for food are constant matters that I must discipline to follow. My social life also plays a factor in decision-making with respect to food consumption, and dietary considerations. For example, in order to eat relatively normally (or even above average, in some cases), I must forego many aspects of social life, such as drinking coffee or espresso at places such as Starbuck's.
However, my proximity to grocery stores makes it entirely possible to eat normal, wholesome foods, thereby counteracting the impulse to buy more expensive college cafeteria food, or even worse, fast food. Thus, my grocery shopping and subsequent food intake consists of nuts, fruits, vegetables, whole breads, juices, poultry, fish, whole-grain cereals, eggs, some dairy such as milk and cheese, and occasionally, some sugary products such as chocolate chip cookies or blueberry muffins.
Despite my healthy diet, I am often tempted to eat foods that are not healthy. For example, in more centralized, urban areas, I notice that there are several fast food restaurants, of the franchise variety. Sometimes, if I am hungry, I will stop and purchase some fast food items, such as hamburgers and french fries. Much to my dismay, this food sates my appetite for a very short period of time. Of course, it is extremely unhealthy, as it is loaded with saturated fats, cholesterol, and empty calories. Fortunately, I do not eat these kinds of foods on a regular basis.
For the most part, food is very accessible on campus. However, I believe there should be some changes made to the campus menu itself -- accessibility notwithstanding. For example, there should be a greater variety of nutritious foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, I believe that the food available on campus should be less expensive, as nearly all college students live on a very tight budget, and are unable to obtain adequate nutrition. Thus, it is actually an investment on the part of a college to supply wholesome foods at a lower, more-economical price. Such an investment may translate into less stress for students, better academic performance, and even higher graduation rates.
Overall, I consider myself to be very fortunate, and I am grateful that my geographic location is close to grocery stores that sell whole foods. Although my diet might be considered "normal" by most standards, I am able to budget enough money for foods that are nutritious and wholesome. Indeed, some locations in the area have a high number of fast food franchise restaurants, and it is tempting to eat at these places every so often. However, my dietary intake is consistently nutritious. I believe that my diet helps me navigate through, and cope with the daily stressors of college life. Finally, there is little doubt that my college needs to do a better job of accommodating the dietary needs of its student populace. Such menu enhancements could provide an enormous payback for all students, and is a worthwhile investment for the school, in general.