Comments on: Trayless Time of Year http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/ a look at how America squanders nearly half of its food Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:09:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Molly http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/#comment-32972 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:44:55 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/#comment-32972 Thought you might enjoy this "kvetch" from the Daily Tar Heel website... "Dining, Since you saved so much ''money'' by taking the trays away, when can I expect my meal plan costs to go down? By the way, that decision SUCKED!" And the subsequent response: "If you're complaining about being trayless, and you're one-handed, then I apologize; if not, maybe you should eat a little less, like two plates of food." Thought you might enjoy this “kvetch” from the Daily Tar Heel website…

“Dining,
Since you saved so much ‘’money'’ by taking the trays away, when can I expect my meal plan costs to go down? By the way, that decision SUCKED!”

And the subsequent response:

“If you’re complaining about being trayless, and you’re one-handed, then I apologize; if not, maybe you should eat a little less, like two plates of food.”

]]> by: Jonathan http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/#comment-32586 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:28:23 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/#comment-32586 Emily, I haven't heard anything about congestion and I've heard plenty of student complaints (legit and otherwise) on why they don't like trayless dining. On the design front, I've learned a few tips on how cafeterias are better managing traffic: 1. Have napkin dispensers on the table 2. Locate drink dispensers and silverware closer to tables so they're easier to take after you get your food. 3. Instead of having each item on its own plate, serve multiple foods on one plate. Kristen, It's a legitimate question. I'll tell you who doesn't save money--the students. But some food service providers pledge to put the savings into better (more local) food options. We'll see... As you said, though, the most important thing is getting students to waste less food. Emily, I haven’t heard anything about congestion and I’ve heard plenty of student complaints (legit and otherwise) on why they don’t like trayless dining. On the design front, I’ve learned a few tips on how cafeterias are better managing traffic:
1. Have napkin dispensers on the table
2. Locate drink dispensers and silverware closer to tables so they’re easier to take after you get your food.
3. Instead of having each item on its own plate, serve multiple foods on one plate.

Kristen,
It’s a legitimate question. I’ll tell you who doesn’t save money–the students. But some food service providers pledge to put the savings into better (more local) food options. We’ll see…

As you said, though, the most important thing is getting students to waste less food.

]]> by: Kristen http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/#comment-32582 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:42:46 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/#comment-32582 So, who saves money? Aramark, or the school? I'm guessing Aramark does. Either way, it's a nice motivator! So, who saves money? Aramark, or the school? I’m guessing Aramark does.

Either way, it’s a nice motivator!

]]> by: Emily http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/#comment-32573 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:56:44 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/08/21/trayless-time-of-year/#comment-32573 Jon, any inside scoop on how traylessness has affected the cafeteria flow and/or even the time it takes to dine? I can imagine that when a college cafeteria is particularly swamped, the lack of trays might cause some disruption with people going back and forth from the lines to the tables, getting items separately that they would have previously stacked up on their tray. Not that this is an issue more important than limiting food waste, I'm just curious if, for example, in the long run, cafeterias will be designed differently to accommodate a new flow of traffic ... just a thought! Jon, any inside scoop on how traylessness has affected the cafeteria flow and/or even the time it takes to dine? I can imagine that when a college cafeteria is particularly swamped, the lack of trays might cause some disruption with people going back and forth from the lines to the tables, getting items separately that they would have previously stacked up on their tray. Not that this is an issue more important than limiting food waste, I’m just curious if, for example, in the long run, cafeterias will be designed differently to accommodate a new flow of traffic … just a thought!

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