Local Eateries

Here are some of the local places and deals college students spend most of there time at!

What are you appealed to, cost efficiency or experience?

An interview with Adam Fallet

        As a college student in his 3^rd year, attending Mira Costa College, Adam has become experienced and versatile in the topic of eating out vs eating at home. He has been an employee of several different food establishments over the past 4 years and has been able to gain information and skills in utilizing the two different options in the experience of eating. Some of Adam’s places of employment have included Chipotle, Starbucks, Cheesecake Factory, Naked Café, and Toast Gastrobrunch, all of which can be found in North County San Diego. If you have not been to all or any of these establishments, they range in price, style, and experiences. Some are geared towards a more cost-effective alternative, such as Starbucks and chipotle. Others strive to specialize in quality and experience at a slightly higher price, including Cheesecake Factory, Naked, and Toast. While working at these restaurants, Adam explained that he obtained several different positions, mainly in the front of the house, where you primarily interact with customers. None of these establishments qualify as “fine dining” but give a broad variety of options for people, especially college students.

College students are usually in and out of a stable financial status and depending on that status choose where they are going out to eat. Adam explained that in his past and current employment, there are features of the restaurant that appeal to a younger demographic in two different ways. The cheaper restaurants, appeal to those who are typically college students with the assumption that they are needing to save money, though typically not as healthy. They are not designed to the environment in which a college student would probably want to spend their time but are alluring due to the cost-effective nature. The restaurants with a slightly higher price tag on their meals, are putting effort and quality in what would be considered “trendy” or “hipster” according to the younger populations, but because they are higher in value, those people tend not to dine there. There is a juxtaposition between what we see as desirable and reasonable. The Article “Examining Food Intake and Eating Out of Home Patterns Among University Students”, written by Erand Llanaj, states “which may be a useful insight for this financially restrained population category and perhaps helps policy-makers make a decision on whether to create dedicated student restaurants, with reduced costs for students which may be a useful insight for this financially restrained population category and perhaps helps policy-makers make a decision on whether to create dedicated student restaurants, with reduced costs for students. (2018, p.10)” If we offer cheaper alternatives to students that are appealing in the environment, it will help not only the restaurants succeed but will be an easier enjoyable place for students to reasonably attend.

Being a busy college student and working in the food service, Adam has showed me that it is much more attainable for a college student on a tight budget to either prepare food at home or go to an establishment that offers cheaper options, with the occasional treat of a higher quality restaurant. It seems that restaurants aren’t reasonable to the average college student in the right ways and continue to supply an attractive environment with accompanying unsuitable prices.

Vegetarian Commuter!

An interview with Alexander Bolender

            For the majority of people, eating out is just dependent on what “sounds good” to you at the moment. The majority of the restrictions that keep certain options off the table include budget and location, but what about those with dietary restrictions? Alex Bolender shared his experiences finding sustainable food options with being a vegetarian. He attends The University of San Diego (USD) and commutes roughly 45 minutes one way, daily to get to campus. As a commuter student, there is a lot of traveling demand on the individual that makes eating a complex issue. Do you eat at home before you leave or eat near campus? Being someone who does not eat meat, he finds it difficult to find places locally near his home in North County San Diego, that offers vegetarian cuisine. Alex mentioned that the better places to eat vegetarian food are down in the city of San Diego, one of his favorites being Sipz, a vegetarian/vegan Thai Fusion. When he is home, he mentioned that it is easier to prepare his own food, and then take with him.

According to the article, “Examining Food Intake and Eating Out of Home Patterns Among University Students”, written by Erand Llanaj, the “availability of food based on dietary guidelines in canteens are an effective way to ensure healthy diets in students [37]. However, to date, campus or university student restaurants or canteens are not available and this poses a great opportunity to consider this particular aspect of the food environment (Llanaj, p. 9)” Alex had mentioned that he prefers to meal prep and bring his food to campus because of the limited resources that USD offers. He often has to ask around to find an establishment that offers vegetarian meals, and then even when he comes across them is very limited. Many times, when they offer vegetarian options it is the same unsustainable foods that don’t offer him all the nutrients he needs in a meal. The choice of bring food he has already prepared at home, not only offers convenient opportunities and options, but also can help alleviate the expenses of eating out down south because he is not near home.

The idea of eating out as a college student is a decision that needs to be considered carefully due to the possible restriction on diet, budget, and location. Being someone who is continuously busy and constantly trying to find cuisine that is right to his specific diet, Alex has shown me that there are a lot of factors to go into eating, but there are surely no limitations strong enough to conquer him. He explores and is resourceful in locating the perfect meal for him whether he eats out or brings it from home. He has become creative with his meals made at home and also is able to experience different cuisine away from home because of his long commute.