Editor ,
As a freshman attending the University of New Mexico, I am required to have a meal plan and eat at the main dining hall, La Posada. Over the past few months, I have noticed that the dining hall throws away a large quantity of its food. Now that La Posada is open 24/7, there is no telling how much food will be wasted on a daily basis.
All freshmen living on campus for the first time have to eat La Posada because they are required to have a meal plan. They have no other option other than to eat at La Posada; students get food that they don't need and they throw the remains away.
There is a lot of leftover food that doesn't get eaten or goes bad at La Posada, and it all gets thrown away. This wasted food can be saved if we take action. There are many solutions that can take place in order for this food waste problem on campus to be solved. First, La Posada can provide better-quality food for all students. Along with that, it should not be a requirement for students to have a meal plan if they live on campus. Also, students should only take food that they know they're going to finish when they're eating a meal.
Another great solution would be to donate the extra food to the Roadrunner Food Bank. The Roadrunner Food Bank serves food to hungry people in New Mexico. La Posada could greatly contribute to this because there is so much extra food that is left over from students. The food waste issue at La Posada needs to be addressed immediately because all of the extra food that gets wasted can be put to a better use.
Sincerely,
Kelly Shell
UNM student
