Pass the Mic: Sociedad Latina
In Boston Public Schools, Lunch Gets Trashed
AFH Photo//Aijanah Sanford
Did you know that most students in Boston Public Schools don’t eat the lunches they are provided during the school day? While BPS has made attempts to fix this issue, it’s still not fully fixed. Improving the quality of school lunches is a matter that should be taken seriously.
In most school cafeterias, students often throw out their food. The 2015 New York Times article “Why Students Hate School Lunches” states “Food and nutrition directors at school districts nationwide say that their trash cans are overflowing while their cash register receipts are diminishing as children either toss out the healthier meals or opt to brown-bag it.’’According to the article, the food and nutrition directors saw that trash barrels in the cafeterias were full with the lunch that is served to their students. This is something that has to be fixed because in the long run, it will lead to bigger issues like some students going hungry.
A good step towards improving school lunches is to have students get involved in creating the menu that will be served each day. School lunches are made for students, not the staff; therefore, students should have a say in what is being served. This is also an opportunity for the students to put their cultural dishes on the menu, which will make it more diverse.
“The people that make the school lunches, they don't really care about how they do it, or if the food has good flavor,’’ said 16-year-old Eddie Batista of Margarita Muñiz Academy.
The Times article also states, “There’s been a movement to relax a few of the guidelines as Congress considers whether to reauthorize the legislation, particularly mandates for 100 percent whole grains and extremely low sodium levels, so school meals will be a bit more palatable and reflective of culinary traditions.’’ The article also goes on to say, “other than mandating more fruits and vegetables, the new regulations haven’t really changed anything except force manufacturers to re-engineer products so they meet the guidelines but not children’s taste expectations.” This is saying that the healthy meals that students get aren’t enjoyed because they lack flavor. However, it is possible to make better lunches that still comply with these guidelines.
Students should get more involved with aspects of school life that affect their overall education. The staff in the schools need to consider that their preferences don't matter because the rules and regulations they make is for the students to follow, not them. Students should be more involved, especially with school lunches because the food is served to the students, but we don't have a say in what it is.