Lunchtime for many students is an important part of their day, serving as a time to catch up with friends, take a mental break from studying, or complete homework for the next period. While insignificant to many, school lunches have evolved over the years to adhere to the nutrition requirements of students so they can perform better in class and eat a more versatile and healthy meal.

Free/reduced lunch is offered in schools all over the world for those in a financial situation preventing them from affording food. In addition, new meal nutrition standards are having a positive impact on student food selection and consumption, especially for fruits and vegetables. 

In 2010, Michelle Obama passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which altered the entire school food system. The bill funds child nutrition programs and free lunch programs in schools and has been designed to include all food groups on the food pyramid. While this bill has appealed to many parents, students are left to criticize the change in lunch. 

“I usually buy french fries on Mondays, but the lines get very long, especially 10 minutes after the bell for lunch. The lines also run out of food during second lunch which is not fair for students,” said senior Imaan Randhawa.

Lunchtime is very important to students but some are faced with the difficulty of not receiving lunch due to the long lines which have proved to be an unresolved issue. Regardless of the many lines for school lunches, many students are left without food. 

“The chicken sandwiches used to be so good but they have changed. It is healthier but I wish the quality of the sandwich remained the same. I would like the lunch lines to be faster, but because of the large volume of students, it’s hard for some kids to get their food and have time to eat,” said senior Douglas Ta.

A 30-minute lunch can feel like a crunch, however it is an important part of many people’s day. With the help of Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 the new school lunch system has proven to help many low-income students.