As Generation Z students begin to become the majority on college campuses, dining halls have new expectations to live up to. Gen Z grew up with more technology and information than any other generation, so it's understandable you care about what you're consuming and how.
Gen Z colleges students are changing on-campus dining options for the better. Here are four things many of you are looking for when it comes to campus food.
1. They want greater transparency
You care about what you put into your body. You want to know the ingredients, calorie count and other nutritional information about your dining hall's offerings, and you might even want to know where the food came from.
To do this, colleges have two options: display the information somewhere in the dining hall or provide it on a mobile app you can download. Yale University recently opted for the latter by releasing an app that tells students everything they could want to know about their food — even down to the exact farm their ingredients came from.
The platform also allows students to provide the dining hall with feedback, so they can adapt to the needs and preferences of your generation.
2. They expect customization options
Around one in three Americans followed a specific diet in 2018, and that number is even higher for those between the ages of 18 and 34.
Because of this, Gen Z students are craving more customization options in dining halls. Vegan students may want to order a sandwich without cheese or butter, and vegetarians need plenty of meat-free meals to choose from — and that means having more than just a salad bar.
One survey of 1,500 college students found that half of them believe having plenty of options is among the most critical aspects of campus food services. Meanwhile, 24% said having access to unique and new foods and beverages is the most important.
The desire for increased customization also stems from your exposure to technology, which has allowed Gen Z to customize almost any purchase you make. A plethora of ethnic food is also becoming more in demand, as Gen Z is a more globally aware and diverse generation than any other.
3. They want organic options
Perhaps the most critical aspect of food to most of Gen Z is that food is clean and organic. Organic foods don't have the same pesticides and other chemicals that conventional foods do, and eating organic is a priority for many.
The demand for organic food isn't necessarily unique to Gen Z, either. Even though less than 1% of U.S. farmland is dedicated to organic practices, we would need to devote as much as 6% of it to organic farming in order to keep up with the country's demand for it.
By presenting plenty of organic options, dining halls can appeal to both the students and faculty members who eat there.
4. They expect on-the-go food to have healthy options, too
One skill most of you have perfected is multitasking, in part due to your desire to get involved and commit yourselves to several classes, jobs and social groups. While many scientific studies will argue that multitasking isn't necessarily the best strategy for projects that require intense focus and critical thinking, Gen Z has mastered the art of using technology to get several small tasks done within a short amount of time.
Because of this tendency to do a few things at once, nearly 40 percent of Gen Z prefers to eat their food on the go — whether you're on the way to class, work or an extracurricular activity
That being said, dining halls can reduce the number of tables and chairs they provide and substitute them for a wider variety of on-the-go foods. Wraps, veggie plates and other premade snacks and meals are great options to enjoy while walking to your next obligation.
University dining halls are experiencing a shift.
As college campuses begin to welcome a new generation of humans, they need to adapt to the preferences and values of their new students.
For Gen Z, we're seeing most changes occur in campus dining halls thanks to health-conscious tendencies. To stay relevant and useful to students, dining halls should focus on adapting to meet your expectations.
