Eating Smart: Students Take a Closer Look at AUA Cafeteria

2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia — Ensuring that healthy food choices are available at the American University of Armenia (AUA) cafeteria is regarded as essential, given the long hours students spend on campus and their high reliance on these meals. A balanced diet supports not only physical health but also enhances mental acuity and concentration, directly impacting students’ academic performance. Moreover, fostering healthy eating habits extends beyond university life, influencing long-term wellbeing. 

As part of the General Education course, PH203 Human Nutrition and Health developed and taught by Gerald & Patricia Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS) Visiting Associate Professor Dr. Kim Hekimian; also Associate Professor of Nutrition at Columbia University and advisor to the Republic of Armenia Minister of Health, and co-taught by CHS Visiting Lecturer Arev Mazloumian, the students enrolled in the course took on the project of evaluating the cafeteria menu options and propose improvements based on their findings. 

The students applied the knowledge and prepared nutritious and cost-effective recipes for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. For every new item, they conducted a comprehensive analysis of the nutrients — vitamins, minerals, fat, carbohydrates, and protein — to ensure each item was sufficiently well-balanced. The students then presented their findings and suggestions to the Cafeteria Marketing Manager, Anna Hovhannisyan, and discussed the potential of incorporating additional nutritious food items to further diversify the current menu. In their proposal, the students suggested providing nutrient information — fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, as well as number of calories — with each menu item. The primary objective of this initiative is to enable cafeteria patrons to make well-informed dietary choices when selecting their meals from the cafeteria offerings. 

Beyond collaborating in this domain, students and the cafeteria marketing manager also considered new strategies aimed at further enhancing access to nutritious foods in the cafeteria. They brainstormed and discussed the feasibility of various tactics, such as diversifying healthy food options, introducing meal planning applications, displaying nutritional details on each cafeteria offering, modifying existing recipes to incorporate healthier alternatives, having international cuisine days, and others. 

This hands-on immersive activity facilitated students’ practical know-how of nutrition facts while offering invaluable recommendations for further improving the cafeteria menu. The cafeteria management greatly benefited from the students’ feedback and expert analysis. As the University cafeteria continues to embrace such improvement proposals, it takes one more practical step towards fostering a culture of wellbeing and informed dietary habits within the campus community.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.