Plain and Mundane or Food for the Brain? An Opinion on School Lunches

By Kevin Hart

     People often pose thought-provoking questions about life. These questions include: Is there a God? What’s the meaning of life? What’s our purpose? Well, we don’t care about that—we only care about lunch.
     Picture this. You walk into the cafeteria and see the happy faces of your fellow peers before stepping in line to receive the daily grub. What could it be today? Chicken tenders? Perhaps pizza? Then, before you know it, you’re towering over the grand selection of food at your fingertips. You see that it’s a messy calzone with the side of fruit that you probably won’t eat. 
      Now, you might be thinking, “Kevin! Why you gotta be so harsh towards the food? Food is food, just eat it as it is!” You’re right, food is food. But, shouldn’t we enjoy our food as we consume it?
​I took the liberty of visiting the cafeteria during 6th period lunch, and I surveyed twelve people about their opinions about school food.

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     The most concerning answers were in response to a question that asks, “List three words you would use to describe the school food.” Students who were surveyed believed that the school lunch was, “disgusting,” “heavy,” and “bland,” to name a few adjectives.
     When asked to rate the school food on a scale of 1-4 in regard to the quality of the school lunches, more than half of the students voted a “2,” indicating that the school lunch was “okay.” A few outliers stated that the school lunch was a “3,” indicating that it was pretty good. However, out of the twelve people surveyed, no one rated the lunches as a “4,” indicating that lunches were delicious.
     But it’s not all bad of course! The school lunches do have their good days. The French fries are pretty crispy, and the main entrees are fine. I personally quite like the new tater-tots that they’ve started serving over mashed potatoes, and the lunch wraps—they are to die for!
     Other foods such as the soups are a great hit with adults and students alike. It’s simple, it’s tasty, and it’s really hot. However, for some reason, they’re only served during the fall and winter, and they’re served with an optional side of fries. Bread? Sure. Fries? No thank you.
     And, let’s not forget that the school is attempting to incorporate some new items on the menu. Such items include tasty lunch wraps and Chicken Lo Mein.
     This bold attempt to break the status quo of school lunch menus is a good idea at its core, but one can only dream of the day when we have a specialized menu prepared by world-renowned chefs. So, until then, enjoy the nachos, but don’t forget to eat your fruit.