Meal Plan Malfunction Malfunction

Though everyone can appreciate the crispy fried chicken or flavorful red beans and rice that Mayberry serves on Monday, I am alarmed by the lack of healthy eating options available to students with meal plans.
Though Mayberry does provide one highlighted vegetarian meal of the day, and a salad bar full of fresh vegetables, there is still a lack of variety for healthy foods. Most of the protein is majority pork based or fried, which has been timelessly proven to have a negative effect on health.
The student union is also a popular dining place for students, and the restaurants there provide a little more of a variety when it comes to eating options, but as of now with Popeyes, Burger King, Home Zone and Penne Pasta being the only options, it seems like more of a hub for fattening fast foods.
Most students are aware that eating fast food is detrimental to their health, but this does not stop them from visiting their favorite restaurants frequently. Fast food is a huge part of the student population’s diet, mostly because of the convenience. This causes them to put themselves in great danger of developing a wide range of health problems, some of which are potentially life threatening.
African-Americans are more at risk than the average American for developing diseases that result from a poor diet. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer for all Americans, and stroke is the fourth leading cause of death. As frightening as those statistics are, the risks of getting those diseases are even higher for African-Americans. The prevalence of high blood pressure in African-Americans is usually the highest in the world, and can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as causing permanent damage to the heart before symptoms are even detected.
As an HBCU that caters to mostly African-American students, I think that this issue is something that needs immediate attention. Though the great efforts of the meal plan providers here do not go unnoticed, there is still a lot more room for improvement. Students need to demand more grilled food, vegetarian and low calorie food options. This is not just a matter of griping for better food, this is a matter of advocating for better health.