I stood in the lunch line, looking at another day of pepperoni and meat-lover’s pizza. And then the next day, it was the same… and the next, and the next. I started to wonder why this is getting served every day? Why is this the option every day?
The school lunches should have more variety.
I get that they need everyday options, but I don’t think pizza is a particularly healthy option every day.
Students at Freeport High School also feel strongly about the school lunches, but have mixed feelings overall.
“Oh, I don’t really like how they’re made. The tomato soup gave me food poisoning a few weeks ago. I think they could probably be more cooked than they are,” said sophomore Jordan Castle
“It’s all bland, old, soggy, or hard,” said junior David Spring-man Clancy
“There are some things that are edible, and some things that are not edible, for example, I can eat basco sticks one day, then I could have fruit that probably has mold on it,” said senior Tyler Houston
” I don’t like anything about the school lunches, I don’t like how they try to be too healthy, and the meat is uncooked, the meat is uncooked,” said Da’nell Bond
” What do I like? They give us like apple caramel. You know, they give us a sweet treat, but it’s healthy in the same way. What I dislike is their meat; it’s like a mystery. I don’t like that,” said Raiyn Jordan
I think the district should take the options served every day to students more seriously by providing more healthy and balanced lunches. This could look like exchanging the white bread for wheat bread and only serving pizza occasionally as a hot lunch option.
Breakfast seems more unhealthy than lunch. Students get donuts, and almost every other option has lots of sugar in it. Last year, the cafeteria served Greek yogurt, granola, and fruit. I think that was a very balanced breakfast to serve. Plus, tons of students seemed to eat it. The district should consider serving that again.
The district should also reduce the waste by looking into what students are actually eating. At breakfast, there is a little cart in front of the cafeteria that is always filled with abandoned milk and apples because students don’t want them. It’s the same at lunch.
I can see a new future with these new lunch options. I could walk up and see balanced, healthy, varied lunches and breakfasts, which would make me feel considered by the district and excited and happy about the changes.
