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How much? 

A window into daily decision-making in the Middlesex Dining Hall in a time of unusually high food prices. 


Have you ever gotten to the dining hall and found no delicious, albeit expensive, raspberries left for you? It’s no secret that Middlesex students play favorites when it comes to the meals served in the cafeteria. They pounce at some offerings and pass on others. So, how does the dining hall team predict our uneven food consumption every week? How do they mitigate food waste and overspending in an economy of rising prices? Precedence is key. “We use guides from previous years,” said Dave Peterson, the head of Flik dining services on campus. Still, it’s not an exact science. I interviewed some Middlesex students to find out if (and what) items run out quickly in the dining hall. “The pasta is always gone, especially at lunch,” says Grace Fundaro, 27’. One of the few supplementary meal items offered consistently in the cafeteria, pasta is a product the dining hall needs a lot of and also something that the students want. Another key item glaringly missing in the cafeteria multiple days a week is Lucky Charms as brought to my attention by Elizabeth Welles 27’ and multiple other students. “With 118 new students, the volume changes,” Peterson added. For example, on January 19th during our interview mid-lunch block, Peterson explained, “We made 100 pizzas today and we just ran out” leaving the second half of the lunch crowd disappointed. Sometimes, it’s the opposite problem. “Say we have a whole pork loin unused, we will make soup with it the next day,” says Peterson. Repurposing the previous day’s meals helps to reduce waste and cut excess spending in a time of unusually high prices. “Food prices increased 2.9% for the year ending in November,” according to a CNN Business article from December. Though 2.9% may sound insignificant, this comes on the heels of an 11% increase from 2021 to 2022 as reported by the Government Accountability Office. Flik benefits from some cost-effective measures such as volume pricing, a structure that offers discounts for bulk purchases. Food pricing for Middlesex is also standardized amongst all Flik locations which helps to balance Middlesex’s individual spending. Still, Peterson acknowledges these are expensive times. “Food over the past few years has been out of control but we still have to feed you,” he said. Though food price inflation is no longer outpacing general inflation according to CNN, some products are still especially pricey. Yahoo Finance reported that bread prices, oranges, and beef are three of the most pricey items of this year. The dining hall continues to observe student food consumption and adapt to student behaviors in order to waste as little food as possible and spend conservatively. 

Diana Davidson

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