Food at FUMA

Both the middle school and upper school cadet have a limit on the amount of cash they are allowed to have at any one time. Allowance is distributed on campus and the amount is set by parents, as long as it is within the acceptable range. For instance, in the upper school, cadets are not allowed to have more than $40, unless they are preparing for a major leave (traveling home). We discourage families from supplementing the allowance (by mailing money, for instance). One reason we do this is to make sure we do not encourage artificial social barriers within the campus community. I am not aware of any cadets who do not receive an allowance, although it is certainly not required.

The Sabre Shop is one space on campus where cadets from any company can gather to have a snack outside of the dining hall and spend some time socializing. I think it is best to keep the "pocket money" in the advised range as set forth by the school. This places some real-life budget restrictions in their hands.

As an alum that has seen his fair share of FUMA "institution food" back in the 80's I eat at the FUMA dining hall a few times a year. I do not eat there during special occasions. IE Mother's day, Alumni Day etc. So it would be fair to say I eat what they normally get.

I am always impressed with the quality of the food and extras. I am not saying that in terms of " they never had that when I was here, these kids are spoiled". I am saying that the food is as good if not better than most Cafeterias and buffets. When I eat breakfast there I can not help but make the comparison to the "shoney's breakfast buffet". Now will the cadets see it this way? No way! Do the cadets get tired of the food? Sure, I bet they do...it is not home. Did I eat my fair share of pizza from up town? Yes. Would I eat outside food now that I know how good the food is? Yes, because of variety and a feeling that I am not in the dining hall. Call it an escape from the norm.

Eat at the same place everyday. Regardless of variety, you will tire of the "same old thing". That said, you son is getting the opportunity to eat a well prepared, tasty and balanced diet. What he chooses to eat is up to him...lol

Unfortunately there will always be the have and have nots. Even at FUMA. Not everybody who goes to FUMA comes from a wealthy family. Some scrape what they have and that is about it.

The Sabre shop is really a place to go to get some alright food as well. I used it to get away from the meals I could not stand period. There are just some things no matter how well prepared, just can't be stomached.

We picked up our son for his first leave two weeks ago. I asked him about the food and he complained about it. We ate lunch there during his first day and it seemed fine to us. I later asked him if he'd received any demerits. He answered that he had been given a hard time by an officer who saw him going back to the cafeteria for a second lunch one day. The officer told him to go to the infirmary to be sure that he didn't have a tapeworm. Basically in the same conversation he told us that the food was terrible and that he had gone back for a second lunch. My impression is that complaining about the food is a rite of passage because it is never "cool" to like institutional food. We are new to FUMA, but the teachers and administrators eat in the cafeteria too. It doesn't seem like an issue to me.

David Fleenor and I were there over the same time in the mid to late 1980s. I'd love to have the food the boys get now compared to what we had "back in the day". At the same time though, none of us went hungry and there was always something to eat in the dining hall even if you didn't care for the main course.

In the fall of 1985 there was a major flood that cut off FUMA from the outside world for over a week. We had almost 10 days of cereal, cold cuts, and bug juice. By the time we were resupplied, we had gone through a rite of passage. We Alumni still brag surviving the Flood of 85!

I attended FUMA 82-82. While I started by buying food at the Sabre shop I quickly found the chow hall food well balanced and more than edible. Returning many times for visits and games I can say I still enjoy eating there (although I do miss the old cafeteria over by Hatcher Hall). As a physician and a member of the military for the last 17 year I would say the food at FUMA is as healthy and flavorful as can be achieved in mass production. I found most of the Cadets who frequented the Sabre Shop did so because they enjoy comfort food. It is in fact a "snack bar" and should only be treated that way. Real nutrition is provided in the chow hall. Cadets caught up in the "have and have not" struggle are missing the real opportunity of the school which is to grow as an individual and not judge yourself by those around you.