Providing Benefits Beyond Nutrition

Imagine you’re a college student and you’ve got a hectic day ahead. The semester has just started, and you’ve got to find something convenient with enough high-octane nutrition to power you through a full day of classes, studying, the gym, or a yoga session. (And socializing with your friends of course.)

Whether you’re a student-athlete with training and conditioning on your mind, or you need to power through that 8 a.m. Psych class and a two-hour study group, having access to meals and snacks that are good for your mind, body, and soul is a priority.

Which is why when we asked students what they thought the top five food trends in college dining for 2025 would be, we weren’t surprised to see functional foods on their list.  

What the Heck Makes Food Functional?

So-called functional or holistic food options are not new. But college students are leading the way when it comes to the idea that what we consume directly impacts how we look, feel, and engage with the world around us.  

The results from Sodexo’s 2024-2025 Student Lifestyle Survey made it clear that Gen Z takes a progressive and pragmatic approach to incorporating foods that fuel their mental and physical health. The survey results also told us that meal accessibility is just as critical as the food they choose. Since this generation of students has been raised in a culture of convenience, they are experts in finding exactly what they need, when they need it, when it comes to supporting their overall wellness.  

While we understood the assignment, we wanted to make sure that Sodexo continues to deliver exactly what today’s students are looking for. We wanted to dig deeper and really get into the specifics of what they considered healthy, convenient, functional meals — which is a perfect job for The Quad Squad!

This unique student insights community provides real-time feedback from surveys, polls, and mobile diaries administered by more than 1,000 student volunteers at college and university campuses across the U.S.  

To help us determine the “who, what, why, and when,” the student-led Quad Squad surveyed nearly 100 of their fellow students to find out how they define functional foods, what ingredients are a priority, and at what times of the day they seek out functional foods for optimal performance.  

There were quite a few important takeaways from the Quad Squad survey, including:  

• When asked to describe what they consider to be functional foods, survey participants told us they were not only looking for meals with balanced macronutrients*, but meals that are convenient, easy to eat, affordable, and practical to consume within the confines of their hectic schedules.
• Afternoons are when students need functional meals the most. Ensuring that functional meals and snacks are available in the afternoon better aligns with students' desire to refuel during break times.
• High-protein and fresh fruits are the top ingredients students prioritize when looking for functional meals that will help them stay focused or get energized.
• Providing convenient, easily accessible meal and snack formats are critical ways to help students power up with the functional foods they crave. For example, having quick grab-and-go options available for purchase in convenient campus locations (in addition to the resident dining hall and on-campus cafes) would allow them to more easily fit functional meals into their busy schedules.
• Taste is priority when it comes to meal appeal, and students want to be able to customize the ingredients they feel are beneficial and flavorful. Students currently find it challenging to find on-campus food options that offer variety, flavor, and nutrition.
• Expanding the availability, quality, and customization options of functional meals/snacks makes them more appealing and increases the likelihood that students will choose them.
• Snacks play an important role in helping them maintain focus, as well as feeling satisfied without becoming sluggish from overeating. Surveyed students reported that they turn to quick bites such as popcorn, Sunchips®, Goldfish® Crackers, rice and chicken bowls, trail mix, cheese and fruit boxes, carrots, and hummus. 

While “food as fuel” used to be a concept reserved for student-athletes, today’s college students know better. After directly engaging them via our Student Lifestyle Survey and Quad Squad surveys, we found that most students recognize the fact that food does more than just nourish the body. In fact, they prioritize those meals that contain essential nutrients so they can learn, stay active, and socialize at optimal levels. They also pointed out that having those foods easily accessible is critical to helping them accomplish what they need (and want) to do daily.  

It made me think about an interesting fact I learned from several of Sodexo’s on-site teams who report that our Performance Plate resident dining stations — while created to maximize athletic performance and help NCAA student-athletes refuel, recover, and recharge — are a huge hit with the increasing number of health-conscious students looking for nutrition that will keep them sharp, focused, and feeling fit all day long.  

And that makes total sense because the Performance Plate dining station delivers menus with a wide selection of high-protein, nutritionally balanced options that will appeal to today’s foodies who want more variety. In addition, the build-to-order meals found at Performance Plate deliver a level of customization that food-savvy students are searching for.  

View the accessible version

Whether they’re looking for meal options that keep their minds sharp for exams, fuel athletic performance, improve energy levels, or simply reduce their carbon imprint, functional foods will continue to be an extension of Gen Z’s progressive and adventurous approach to daily wellness.

Dive deeper into insights from this recent Quad Squad Survey and Sodexo’s 2024-205 Student Lifestyle Survey, as well as the optimized nutritional offerings available in Performance Plate, to ensure you’re delivering what today’s students want and need from their campus dining experience. 

 

* All data collected from a July 2025 survey administered by Sodexo Campus Quad Squad  
** Balanced macronutrients refer to meals with the daily recommended proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats