Though Hung has sound nutritional advice to offer--particularly about eating well in Harvard's dining halls--she says many students do not know about her service. She adds that many students aren't aware of the options they have and don't know how to make the most of the dining service in general.

"The staff is amazing," she says. "Each house is its own community, and they really want to be accessible to students."

Despite the efforts of HDS to help students learn about nutrition, many students still complain about menus filled with high-fat entrees with low nutritive value.

Yet almost none of the students interviewed who complained about the low nutritional value of the food had turned in a feedback card, consulted with Hung, or examined the Nutrition Bites notebook that lists the fat, protein, cholesterol and vitamin content in the foods served in dining halls.

"The food they offer is unhealthy," says Feliciano D. Vera '97. "The red meats are too fatty and much of the food is cooked in oil."

Maria Mendez '97 has similar complaints--she thinks she's gained weight since her arrival at Harvard partly because so many foods here are cooked in butter and oil.

Of course, talking to Hung wouldn't solve all student complaints or provide a sure-fire way of avoiding "first-year fifteen," But learning which foods to avoid and requesting non-fat items is a good start, according to Hung.

Hung herself warns that changes come slowly when meals are being mass-produced.

"I can't work miracles," she says. "I'm not the cook or the money person. But there's a lot of basic information we need to get out that has nothing to do with the service side."

Some students say HDS isn't really as responsive to student needs as it claims to be, citing HDS' failure to respond promptly to feedback cards.

Taryn Hearn '95 turned in a feedback card requesting apple juice in bag lunches. she says her request was not met and no dining hall worker ever got back to her--which HDS claims never happens when requests are made.

Keith E. Law '94 encountered a similar problem. He noticed that instead of storing ice cream scoopers in hot water, dining hall workers were storing them in ice--which makes the ice cream harder to serve. He turned in three feedback cards about the matter. Although HDS called him back once, the problem was not rectified, he says.

Law's roommate, Costas Panagopoulos '94 was more successful. Last fall, he submitted a request for fettucine alfredo to be served. He says HDS had not offered it since his arrival in 1990. Soon after he submitted his request, fettucine alfredo made its way onto the menu.

Students who dine at the Freshman Union say first-years get a raw deal--customer service or no customer service.

"The difference between the Union and the house is big. The quality and variety of food is better in the houses," says one junior.