Students question quality of school lunches

Teachers and students have recently stated how they really feel about Airport high school's lunches. Students have said that it has been a continuous issue, but they cannot say anything due to their lack of repercussions for saying what they really feel and looking ungrateful for what is often times free food that they receive. Overall, students wish to see a change in the quality of the provided school lunch.

“School lunches have never tasted the best, ” stated by Matthew Earp. If he feels like this, more students have this same thought. When Lauren Pope was asked if she disliked anything about the school's lunch, she responded by saying that her biggest problem was the taste. She said if it didn't taste how most of it does she would eat more of the meals, but since they don't she only eats the chicken nuggets.

Most students at AHS don't think the lunches are big enough. Teachers can get more food than students. Students do not have that opportunity unless they buy a whole other lunch. Some students go up to the lunch line for a second time just to get another piece of pizza and have to pay more for it. Is this fair to students who have to play sports after school and may not be financially able to afford another lunch, or it they are on free and reduced lunch they don't have the option to buy another lunch if they are hungry or need the energy for later?

Students and teachers do not think all the food chosen is for nutritional purposes and for the good of the output, but more for money purposes. Should the students and teachers have to suffer from the taste and quality of the food because the school wants to budget?

If students are unhappy with the food they are provided at school should they be able to voice their opinions and try to make a change?

One of the more positive outlooks on food is one of the responses is what a teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, which was that she didn’t feel like the food was as bad as everyone said. She felt like she got everything she needed out of the food that she needed. She didn’t eat all of the food all of the time, but regarding the food she did eat, she felt was good for the school to provide.

Matthew Earp disagrees. “They’re getting the cheapest, healthy thing,” said Matthew about the budget.

For Mrs. Jones, current teacher at Airport, she had a more positive look on school lunches and do not think they are as bad as students make them out to be. On the other hand students, Lauren Pope and Matthew Earp, think that school lunches need big improvements and changes to the school lunch system. Out of the 3 people questioned about this, 2 of the 3 disapprove of the lunches provided at Airport High School. When asked to rate the foods the teacher gave a solid 8 on the 1 - 10 scale. While the students gave an approximate 1-3 for rating on the same scale.

Overall, despite friendly staff who try their absolute best, there remains overall dissatisfaction with school lunches; then again, students are wont to complain just about everything. Take it with a grain of salt, no pun intended.

If you would like more information on this topic you can contact the Airport's website or the cafeteria staff.