Many students at Yutan High School, along with so many others around the United States, eat school lunches and share similar opinions. Whether it is portion sizes, allergies, quality or even different options, something needs to be changed, but what exactly is that? Students around the country believe lunch needs some changes; schools are wasting money on small portions of foods students won’t eat. Allowing students to voice their opinions can help find a permanent solution to this problem, changing the outlook of school lunches in the future.
A common complaint among students is the portion size given to them at lunch. Out of 102 Yutan students surveyed, 64.3 percent stated that inadequate portion sizes are served. “The portions aren’t filling enough; they give us like five chicken nuggets and call it good,” one student said. More food could consist of more individual pieces, such as a couple more chicken nuggets in a helping or a larger helping of one thing, including a bigger slice of pizza. Students want to be full when leaving lunch; they don’t want to go to class continuing to be hungry. Some can argue that the salad bar provided to students is how they can put more onto their trays. However, there are still limits to how much food they can take. The salad bar is a mix of different fruits and vegetables and sometimes small snacks like yogurt. At times, the food provided isn’t of the best quality nor popular lunch items that teens enjoy, pushing students away from wanting to take the options. “Better options on [the] salad bar would draw more students to it, resulting in more food being taken,” one student said.
Another issue students try to bring to attention is the quality of the food for athletes and all students at the school. “Food needs MORE PROTEIN. Athletes need enough protein and vitamins to sustain them until practice is over,” one student shared. Many talented athletes within the halls represent Yutan High School well. Why not fuel these athletes with proper quality meals and also give non-athletes a healthier meal than they have been offered before? Students want food that is healthy for them while also enjoyable to eat. Some meals contain only cheese as the source of protein; is that really enough for students? Adding more meat and other side dishes is a great way to incorporate protein and satisfy students eating school lunch. Students would be willing to pay the increased cost if it means that better, more filling food is being offered. “I would gladly pay more knowing the food I would be eating isn’t random mystery food,” one senior said.
For those who prefer not to eat school lunch, bringing their own lunch is an option that all students have. About 25.5 percent of students at Yutan bring their own lunch daily, including me. Personally, I bring my lunch from home for a different reason than others. I have a food allergy limiting what foods I can and cannot eat. This is another problem with school lunches at Yutan High School: there is no variety for the students with food allergies. It makes it difficult to have a backup plan when we run out of leftovers in the fridge. Accommodations should be made, allowing the students who have allergies the option of eating school lunches.
Moreover, students wish they had more choice in the options being served at lunch. About 58.2 percent of students state that the options offered for lunch are an issue, and 94.1 percent of the student body believes that they should have a say in the options for lunch every day. This doesn’t mean that they want to choose every day what is for lunch, but they want a say in what food will be served. Why serve food that students don’t like right to them? It’s a waste of time, money and food since most of the students just throw away their lunch. Spending money on food that will be enjoyed will get the most bang for the buck and allow the lunch staff to budget differently, which may be more successful. “I know sometimes they know we don’t like the food they serve, but they serve it anyway because it’s convenient for them,” a student said. Students don’t want convenience; they want good food that they enjoy. In the end, students pay for their own meals at a low cost. So why not let them have an input on what they eat for lunch? Students could fill out different forms or surveys, allowing the staff to see what lunches are preferred by students. In the first semester of the year, a student lunch committee was formed, trying a new take on lunch. A positive impact can be made by bringing back the committee, having more consistency and showing that change is being made, which is a start to getting individuals involved with the committee.
Though many students want change, others state that the budget and government recommendations are the reasons students don’t get a say on school lunches. School lunches are based on a food pyramid that the government recommends to individuals, guiding them into certain diets. Workers must also find lunches that fit the budgets of the school and are easiest for the workers to make for the students. “I believe that the regulations made by our government is the reason why school lunches are the way they are. There isn’t a point to complain,” one teacher said. However, regulations have more than one way to be met. While complaining isn’t a solution, they still want their voices heard.
Students want a change in the lunch provided by the school. Portion sizes, allergies, quality and even different options are issues that have come up on the lunch topic. Students must eat while at school due to the mandatory hours of the school day. They shouldn’t have to complain about what they are consuming. Yes, bringing a lunch from home is always an option; however, some students don’t get that option due to home life. Letting students voice their opinions in a positive manner can change school lunch all over, satisfying individual needs one meal at a time.
