Next to the B-Building on the Liberal Arts Campus, an InstaChef machine was installed that sells hot quick means for fairly cheaply. This machine provides an affordable alternative to the food truck on campus.
The InstaChef machine contains pre-packaged meals that are heated when a person buys it. These meals are similar to frozen microwave meals that are in grocery stores.
However, the low cost of meals is diminished by the subpar quality of the food.
While nobody expects cuisine quality from what is essentially a fancy microwave, there is no need for a service like this when higher-quality options exist within walking distance for only a slightly higher cost.
Most of the InstaChef items are under $10, with some even going as low as $4. On average, the menu options at the LBCC food truck are $10-13. But even if the difference in quality did not justify the slightly higher cost, the food truck also has cheaper alternatives that match the prices of the InstaChef machine without the dip in quality.
On this affordable menu the breakfast tacos are $4, the fried egg and cheddar cheese English muffin is $3, a cheese quesadilla is $3, and the grilled ham and cheese is $5.
On top of not serving a purpose because of the options available from the food truck, the quality of the food from the InstaChef is low.
The food is microwaved, and you can tell.
An alternative to the InstaChef machine that would provide cheap food options for students is opening a small stand akin to the on-campus coffee shop that could sell simpler, cold foods.
While cold foods such as sandwiches, wraps and yogurts are sold at the book store at the LAC campus and the Viking Express store, the bookstore is so far from campus, and sometimes the options are sold out at the Viking Express.
Having stands on campus would provide more close options for students who are going between classes and make sure that items are stocked regularly.
Another reason why the Insta Chef machine is not needed, is because it feels dystopian as it falls into the trend where technology is taking over human jobs.
Having a student run these stands could provide them with a day job, and therefore provide an opportunity for students to have a source of income.
While human labor is not cheap, we really only need like four stands on each campus, so the costs won’t be an extreme amount. If LBCC can spend $500,000 on a sign, they can afford an initiative to support their students with having access to a basic need.
Also, the niche of microwaveable food is provided by the microwaves at both stores. If students want to eat this type of food, they can bring it.
Ultimately, the InstaChef machine does not justify its own existence because of the low quality of food it churns out, its support for automated services that are damaging the fabric of society, and because of the lost potential for alternative options that could support student workers.
