[The following article was written in March 2024, prior to the opening of the new school kitchen]
The topic of school lunch ignites heated debates among students, who generally share negative feelings about it. Many students wish for the lunch items to either be rethought or taken out completely. But the question is- why? Why do students typically dislike an otherwise nutritional meal?
“The burger is very chewy and unseasoned,” says ninth grader, Haneen Abdelhadi, “if I were to buy the burger, I’d only buy the fries, because the burger is not good at all.” Students feel that the school lunch should be both tasty and nutritional. If the burger was seasoned better, it would make them more likely to buy it.
The problem isn’t only about the taste, it’s also about the portion sizes. “I feel that the school should offer bigger portion sizes,” ninth grader, Raayan Rai, says determinedly, “we sit through school all-day and bigger portions would help us have more energy.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires schools to provide a minimum of 750 kcal in their school lunches. However, this isn’t ideal for students of all body types. The fact is that some people just need more energy throughout the day.
Some students also wish for more of a variety in their school lunch. “I would like to see more side foods,” Abdelhadi says, “not just a main and some fries, but more snacks as well.” With more snacks being provided along with the meal, students would feel more satisfied with their purchase.
Although the general view on school lunch is negative, there seems to be one common favorite item- the pizza served on Fridays. This is by far the most bought lunch item compared to the others.
“I never get school lunch, except on Fridays,” says seventh grader, Jena Zubaidi, “…pizza is the only lunch item I look forward to.”
“Pizza is my favorite school lunch by far because it is really good,” Rai says enthusiastically.
These opinions might change, however, as BHA’s in-school kitchen was finally completed in mid-February, allowing for hot home-cooked meals to now be served and purchased by students and staff. Up until now, the school has purchased their meals from a third-party vendor. This new addition and service has the potential to revolutionize the school lunch experience, offering students an array of options that may finally leave them feeling truly satisfied with their purchases. Ninth grader, Zia Zaidani, says “the new kitchen opens the door to nutritional lunch meals we will actually enjoy!”
