Food for thought

Food+for+thought

Camdyn Thigpen, Staff Writer

Many students bring lunch from home to eat at school, but since school lunches became free in 2020, the lines in the lunchroom have grown dramatically. Students who used to pack their own food have now begun to buy school meals.  

“I normally pack my own lunch, but one day last year I forgot my lunch at home, and it was Nacho Day at school. My friends were getting nachos, and so I wanted to try them, too,” Genesee Wentworth, junior, said.  

Wentworth now buys lunch weekly. Before 2020, school lunches were $2.60, but when school reopened after COVID-19, lunches became free to all students. However, at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, lunches returned back to their original price because of the financial aid expiring.  

“It was free, and the food was good, so I just got some,” Elizabeth Tripplehorn, sophomore, said.  

The lunch was free because of federal aid, and the government wanted to help lessen the financial burden on families. While lunches are no longer free, many students still buy their lunch every day. Although the lines are not as long as they were the past two years, they continue to spill into the lunchroom.  

“I got lunch last year with my friends when it was free. I get it sometimes now, but not as much as I used to,” Levi Crowe, sophomore, said. 

The school website has a calendar showing the meal options for the month, but there is also an app called Mealview available for download that allows students and parents to see what is for lunch. 

“I downloaded the app last year with my friends to see what was on the menu. I still use it sometimes to see if I want to bring stuff from home,” Isaac Martin, senior, said.  

The Clawprint polled students who buy lunch, and nachos and burgers topped the list as favorite foods. Coming in last were chicken sandwiches and yogurt. 

“Burger day is the best day of the week. I actually look forward to it,” Tripplehorn said.  

According to Selinna Pettyjohn and Stephanie Neidlinger, Creekview cafeteria workers, between 750 and 800 students buy lunch daily. The staff can usually predict around how many students will buy lunch based on the day’s menu.  

“We are typically able to know how many kids will get food. Our low days are barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs. Our high days, mac ‘n cheese and nachos,” Neidlinger said.   

While the lines in the lunchroom may have slowed down, hundreds of students still purchase lunch most days. The Grizzly Café is a place for all students to enjoy lunch and socialize with friends.