More additions will be made to Jerry’s Juice Bar’s menu as part of the Get Fit Stay Fit program.
“[The Get Fit Stay Fit program] draws more customers to the Markin [Family Student Recreation] Center and also causes more health conscious decisions to be made,” said Mary Smith, the juice bar manager.
Executive Director of Campus Recreation and Athletic Facilities Mike Keup said he agreed healthy additions are a good idea.
“The Get Fit Stay Fit program has drawn enough attention that it has motivated us to take a second look at certain things,” Keup said. “If we are going to educate participants on how to make responsible nutritional decisions through the program, we should provide some of those options at the juice bar.”
Junior finance major Monica Bylina works at the juice bar and said people often look at health content when buying food.
“I notice a lot of people looking at the calorie and protein content for the various cereal and energy bars,” she said. “To a certain extent, I think people assume Jerry’s Juice Bar to be healthy.”
Smith said the menu includes smoothies, soup, sandwiches, protein bars, cereal bars, bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter, fresh salads, homemade yogurt parfaits, soft drinks, sports drinks, juices, hot chocolate and cappuccinos.
“Some additions will include fresh whole fruit, yogurt cups, bottled yogurt smoothies, some new health bars, dried fruits and other possible additions,” she said.
Smith said the suggestions for additions came from students, faculty and staff.
“What to add to the menu was largely influenced by student input which came in the form of direct requests to the employees, which are then forwarded to a student supervisor,” she said.
Bylina said the menu has already undergone changes from last year.
“I think that it will benefit not only the juice bar but people who are on the run and need a quick bite of food,” she said. “Compared to last semester, there have already been big changes. Instead of the nachos and cookies, there now are trail mixes, oatmeal parfaits, Naked juices and protein smoothies offered daily.”
Smith said soup is available daily during the weekdays, as well as turkey, ham and pepper turkey sandwiches. She said in the beginning of the year students had the option to e-mail her if they wanted made-to-order sandwiches available for pick up, but the student response was not great.
“We’re open to any suggestions for additions that students have for us,” Smith said.
Jerry’s Juice Bar is open on weekdays from noon to 8 p.m. and weekends from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.