Lunches at the Charles City High School seem to be getting worse and worse each year. As obesity in children and teens has recently been a big issue in the United States, it has become mandatory to provide healthier school lunches for students. Along with the healthy alternatives and smaller portions, there have been many complaints.
I agree that getting the right food and nutrition is extremely important for our bodies in our everyday lives, but I think there are some problems in our school lunch meals. In the past few years, the amount of food served has decreased. I understand how it is healthy, but with these smaller portions many students may not be getting enough. For example, athletes should be consuming enough calories so their bodies can refuel and so they have enough energy to perform in their sport. If the school is cutting the size of our lunches, it isn’t healthy to be performing. Even non-athletes need to be full and get the right amount so the brain can work properly and focus for the rest of the day. All students’ bodies are different. Getting the right amount of food, calories, and nutrients is key especially during the teenage years as we are growing and active. I don’t believe that we are satisfying each student’s needs and calorie intake with the lunches we have now.
Meal options are also a problem in the Charles City High School. We students only get one option of a main meal, and if you don’t like that meal, what are you supposed to eat? Some days there are alternatives like leftovers from the day before or other foods. In the past they have served an alternate meal and I, along with many others, preferred that over skipping lunch. But that only lasted for a short amount of time. Also, students can purchase extras off of a la carte, which is great to have when you don’t like the main meal. Year by year they started to take more and more off of a la cart and adding healthy alternatives or took away the options that most students chose. This year it has dwindled down to few options, and most options we don’t enjoy.
Personally, I think there needs to be a change in our school lunches. Getting the right nutrition has become very important, but I think the school system is taking it to the extreme. I believe you can still serve portions that are healthy but larger enough to fill you and that they can keep items on a la carte so there is at least more of an option for those who do not get the main meal. If we are going to school and learning for seven hours each day I think students deserve a lunch that will be tasteful and fill them up for the day.
I agree that getting the right food and nutrition is extremely important for our bodies in our everyday lives, but I think there are some problems in our school lunch meals. In the past few years, the amount of food served has decreased. I understand how it is healthy, but with these smaller portions many students may not be getting enough. For example, athletes should be consuming enough calories so their bodies can refuel and so they have enough energy to perform in their sport. If the school is cutting the size of our lunches, it isn’t healthy to be performing. Even non-athletes need to be full and get the right amount so the brain can work properly and focus for the rest of the day. All students’ bodies are different. Getting the right amount of food, calories, and nutrients is key especially during the teenage years as we are growing and active. I don’t believe that we are satisfying each student’s needs and calorie intake with the lunches we have now.
Meal options are also a problem in the Charles City High School. We students only get one option of a main meal, and if you don’t like that meal, what are you supposed to eat? Some days there are alternatives like leftovers from the day before or other foods. In the past they have served an alternate meal and I, along with many others, preferred that over skipping lunch. But that only lasted for a short amount of time. Also, students can purchase extras off of a la carte, which is great to have when you don’t like the main meal. Year by year they started to take more and more off of a la cart and adding healthy alternatives or took away the options that most students chose. This year it has dwindled down to few options, and most options we don’t enjoy.
Personally, I think there needs to be a change in our school lunches. Getting the right nutrition has become very important, but I think the school system is taking it to the extreme. I believe you can still serve portions that are healthy but larger enough to fill you and that they can keep items on a la carte so there is at least more of an option for those who do not get the main meal. If we are going to school and learning for seven hours each day I think students deserve a lunch that will be tasteful and fill them up for the day.