The start of the 2022-2023 school year has marked many changes in the food programs at ASB. A new sandwich service and the reinstated vending machine have caused many opinions to be formed.
The beloved vending machine was quick to return, but students looking for a small snack were met with a big change. The price. Last year a wide variety of snacks and drinks were available for purchase for one euro. This year, prices have been raised to 1.50€, with only water remaining 1€. Many students also complain that the snack options have become more limited and their favorites, including Twins chocolate cookies, are rarely stocked. Another complaint was due to the machine still only accepting coins, with many students wishing that they could pay with a card. However, even despite the price increase and outdated technology, the vending machine still draws crowds during break and remains a staple for a quick snack or drink.
A new food service, providing fresh sandwiches, was also introduced this year, fittingly called ASB Bocatas. The program is coordinated through the same suppliers as the beloved food truck from years past, with quality just as good as students remember.
Sandwiches can be ordered the day before via the online system by clicking on the sandwich icon in student’s MyASB profiles and paying with a credit card. During morning recess (10:20 to 10:35), students can pick up the sandwiches from the amphitheater with their student ID. The sandwiches are heated in front of the customer and then wrapped in paper, ready for one to enjoy. Many students have been quick to call it “better than school lunch.”
The initial menu consists of ten sandwiches including two vegetarian options as well as a rotating sandwich of the day. Prices range from 4€ to 9€, making it a cheaper alternative to the pay-as-you-go option for traditional school lunch, however it is intended that students enjoy the sandwiches during their morning break rather than during lunchtime.
The program began on October 10th and while it wasn’t the immediate success the administration had hoped it would be, more and more orders are being placed daily. If this upward trend continues, the full food truck will likely return with even more menu options.
Whether it’s trying a healthy sandwich at break or grabbing a Kinder Bueno on the way to class, all of the food programs at ASB continue to provide great food to be enjoyed by students and staff alike.
Bibliography:
Food Insight. Build Your Own Breakfast Sandwich. Breakfast Panini. 27 December 2017. Food Insight, Food Insight, https://foodinsight.org/build-your-own-breakfast-sandwich-infographic/. Accessed 24 October 2022.