If eating fresh means eating at Subway or other SF State dining facilities that are open later than 7 p.m., then some on-campus residents would rather not eat at all.

The City Eats Dining Center is the main eatery for the freshmen that live in Mary Park and Mary Ward halls. Every resident must buy a meal plan. Its dining hours end at 7:30 p.m. Some students said they don't finish class until the dining center's doors are closed and they skip dinner because their options are limited.

"They really do try," said Mary Ward resident Sarah Mendoza, 18, referring to The City Eats Dining Center, "but it's just more like a Fresh Choice gone bad. After 7 p.m., the food has all been sitting there and the only thing that's good to eat are candy bars and ice cream, so sometimes I just don't eat."

Students who live on campus said grocery stores are hard to get to. Many said they don't have cars because of expenses and buses to the nearest grocery stores take up to 30 minutes each way. Students said cooking is a pain because the only appliances available are mini-fridges and microwaves.

The Village Market is a mini-mart on campus that stays open late.

"The little Village mart helps," said Sushma Seelin, 17, a biology major. "It has most of the essentials so I just stock up on enough cereal for a week or two."

SF State offers Subway, pizza, and a sandwich bar for later alternatives, but some students like Seelin and Mendoza, said the food just doesn't cut it.

"The rest of the food isn't that bad. The 'meals to go' aren't fresh though and by the time you eat it it's gross," said Kait Alicia, a Mary Ward resident. "Subway isn't fresh either, and it's too expensive for what it is."

The City Eats Dining Center has a variety of chow from burgers and enchiladas to vegan food. The center prepares sacked meals for students on the run, but Alicia said she refuses to eat them because they made her nauseous in the past.

Alicia, a music performance major, grew up eating organic foods with health-conscious parents and she said she can't find the time, money, or the right place to eat like she did at home. Alicia said she normally wakes up around 8 a.m. and occasionally won't stop walking around campus until 8 p.m. By the time she swipes her key-card to get back into Mary Ward, the dining center is closed. Alicia said sometimes she only eats once or twice a day.

Teresa Leu, RD, the nutritionist health educator at Student Health Services, said in an e-mail, "It's important that students eat regular meals and snacks to keep up their energy and concentration as well as stabilize their mood."

"My schedule just doesn’t allow for me to eat very often and I try to avoid snacking. Instead of gaining weight like people say freshmen do, I've lost like 10 pounds," said Alicia.

Leu said in an e-mail, "Wheat thins and fruit are healthy snacks. For longer lasting energy, I suggest a low-fat protein also be added. Packing snacks can be helpful and economical."

"It's ideal for students to come see me early in their college years so they can get off on the right foot." Leu provides free services for any registered student and sees freshmen regularly.

The director of dining and the executive chef of City Eats Dining Center both said they were unable to comment. The resident district manager was unavailable at press time.