Going trayless is just one of the changes Cornerstone University’s Food Services is making this fall.

The upcoming changes, such as the Panini and pasta bar, have been inspired by seeing how other schools produce options in a way that is mindful of the environment.

“The main thing is, we’re starting the process of going trayless,” Cindy Wiltheiss said, director of Cornerstone’s food service. “That means that you have whatever you can carry in your two hands.”

Seeing students being careless of how much food they take compared to how much they eat is what prompted Wiltheiss to put her idea into practice.

“We’re not limiting how much you can eat,” she said. “It’s just a lot of kids take and fill their cafeteria tray up and eat maybe two-thirds of their food. I’m just as guilty. What we want to try to do is have people be more aware of what they take they need to eat.”

The Food Services employees first experimented eating without a tray during their break time and realized they ate everything they put on their plate, but took less.

“We took what we ate, and if we wanted dessert, we simply got up and we grabbed something,” Wiltheiss said. “Next semester we will be completely trayless, but for right now we’re trying to introduce it.”

Starting this semester, the trays will be in a different location to encourage students to take only dishes, though the trays will still be available for students to use.

Wiltheiss’ goal is to take the money Cornerstone will be saving and using it in other areas.

“We probably waste between 20-30 percent, and this statistic comes from universities throughout the United States,” Wiltheiss said. “My goal is to try and get more options—more food choices. So if we prevent this waste, then we have this extra money. It’s being stewards of God’s money.”

The rails on the food lines will be covered with Plexiglas to securely accommodate the plates as students get their food.

According to USA Today, some campuses that have experimented with the trayless idea reduced food waste by 50 percent. Wiltheiss said trays will still be available next semester for handicapped people upon request.

“I am part of the sustainability committee,” Wiltheiss said. “I researched it and then took the staff to Grand Valley State University. We watched the tray conveyor to see how much food was being thrown away and there was hardly any. I remembered we had done remodeling over at Quincer [Hall] and that’s where the [leftover] Plexiglas comes in, because the majority of it we already have here on campus. The rest that we’re spending I’m personally paying for. That’s my gift to Cornerstone.”

The pasta bar will be located in the dining area next semester, after Food Services obtains a heating station from Wyoming Public Schools, and will be extended to dinner from Monday to Friday. Student employees will be trained to serve it in order to promote community on campus. For now, the secondary line in the cafeteria is temporarily the pasta bar and is only served during lunch hours.

Changes that have already been implemented are the waffle machines and soup-of-the-day served in the dining area, and the Panini’s served during dinner. Wiltheiss wants to slowly implement the changes at a rate that is comfortable to the students.

Valerie Ross, Food Services second shift supervisor, came to Wiltheiss about the idea of utilizing their Panini grill after having lunch at GVSU.

“They had this Panini station that we all liked, and we had this Panini grill,” Ross said. “It was only used once or twice a semester. I approached Cindy with [the idea] and she agreed to it.” The Panini bar will be offered Monday through Friday during dinner.

Along with acknowledging that Cornerstone is having some financial struggles, Wiltheiss predicts most students will select the 10 meals per week plan. Flex dollars, created three years ago, will also cease to exist.

“When you go through a tough time financially, it makes you think a little deeper,” Wiltheiss said. “And then you think ‘Wow, why didn’t we do this all along?’ I like us having a couple financial struggles, because it makes us think like we always should have been thinking.”

Wiltheiss said Cornerstone students have been especially helpful throughout the change process, making their voices heard through Cornerstone University Student Government.

“What’s so cool about most of the kids this year is that when they’ve had a complaint, they have given me solutions,” Wiltheiss said. “I definitely answer them back as soon as I can because it thrills my soul to see them having this challenge and they’re addressing it and thinking it through for me. It shows that they’re bringing value to my department.”

“Every time you walk in, glance around and see if you find something new,” Wiltheiss said.