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BRISTOL, R.I. – Dining has become one of the many defining ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ experiences students and the rest of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ community enjoy when they chose ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ. For good reason, too: ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s meal plan is ranked in the top 5 percent in the country according to student satisfaction surveys, topped USA Today College’s list for best college food in Rhode Island in 2016, and this year it was named as the best college dining program in Rhode Island by the monthly publication FoodService Director.

And while the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ community is largely familiar with the deliciously satisfying front-end experience of dining at ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ, many aren’t familiar with the behind-the-line work that goes into preparing and serving more than 5,000 meals a day or with the efforts to reduce waste.

That changes now with an in-depth series of stories looking at ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s dining experience. The stories range from a behind-the-line look at the work that goes into feeding the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ community to interesting facts about dining at ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ and the University’s efforts in sustainability and combating food waste.

These stories show some, but not all, of what makes food service at ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ so special. You’ve already tasted ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s top-notch food program. Now see how it comes together:

Behind the Service Line
The central hub for the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ dining experience is the Upper Commons. Take a look at that experience from other side of the service line and the people who make it happen.

Food Recovery Network at ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ
It may look like this small group of students is heading in for an after-hours meal, but they are actually part of a student led effort to combat food waste and food insecurity.

Composting at ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ
Food waste is a part of any food service. It’s why ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ and Bon Appétit Management Company work to curtail that waste. So far, ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ has diverted over 230 tons of food waste from the landfill in the last three years.
 

Interesting Facts on ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ's Food
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ dining serves on average 1,700 students a day. That makes for some interesting facts ranging from the average amount of pizzas made a day to how many pounds of hamburgers are cooked.

Sourced Locally: Where ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ's Food Comes From
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ and Bon Appétit Management Company are committed to using the best ingredients and sourcing food locally when possible. Here are 10 local places where ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ sources its food.