If you picked up last week’s copy of the Observer, then you probably heard that Dining Services is finally making an attempt to provide students with new food options.

Thanks to Dining’s recent student survey, which reported that one of the top three desired food requests among students is organic food, we can be hopeful for healthier meal options in the near future, in addition to a potential food truck and even pho. Hallelujah.

I was ecstatic when I heard the news. After living on-campus for two years, I couldn’t be more ready for change in the food department.

When I walk into the SURC during the overwhelming 12 p.m. lunch hour, I often find myself pacing back and forth between the pizza and wrap stations at least twice before I force myself to settle on an option that I most likely had for dinner the night before.

Now don’t get me wrong, Central offers great food, and I’m not saying that it doesn’t. What I am saying, however, is that the SURC needs more of those great food options.

Other than the desire for cheaper housing, I often hear first-year students complaining that they can’t wait to live off-campus so that they don’t have to eat the SURC food anymore.

Looking back at my first year on campus, I realize I didn’t complain too much. I actually found myself looking forward to the quesadillas and shrimp pesto that the SURC offers. But my taste buds can only handle the same ingredients for so long.

After rotating between the best offered meals at every food venue on campus, I now find myself dreading almost every meal I have to purchase from Dining, because I’ve had nearly every option far too many times.

I’m sure the vast majority of the student body would agree with me when I say it would be greatly appreciated if the SURC could offer a wider variety of healthier food selections.

For those of you who aren’t aware of what the “freshman 15” is, it’s the 15 pounds freshman pack on,  typically as a result of over-consuming the abundance of unhealthy food provided by campus dining, and it is real.

The healthy food options that the SURC currently provides are comparable to that of my high school’s cafeteria, which mainly consisted of bananas, apples and grapes.

While the C-Store does offer the occasional seasonal fruit bowls, the quality, or lack thereof, makes maintaining a healthy lifestyle while living on campus extra difficult.

Then there’s the coffee situation. Anyone else patiently awaiting the day when blended coffee will be offered? A coffee stand in or near the library would also be more than appreciated. Especially since the nearest one in Michaelson Hall doesn’t accept connection cards for some reason that we may never understand.

Thankfully, Dining has already made steps in the right direction with the impressive new additions to Freshens Smoothies at CAT Trax East and North Village Café.

This change gives me hope for the future of campus dining, and I am excited to test out the enhancements that are to come.