Whether it’s packing or buying lunch, students at State College Area High School have many options when it comes to their mid-day meal. However, students have always debated about whether packing or purchasing lunch in the cafeteria is the better choice.
The cafeteria has its benefits, offering a variety of options daily such as a pizza & pasta line, a grab & go, hot sandwiches, a made-to-order Deli, chicken favorites and chef’s stations. These options certainly offer nutritional value and a well-rounded lunch, but many argue that packing is preferable.
“If I pack…I have more of a food choice that I like, and I don’t have to wait in line to buy food,” freshman Taylor Langer said.
When eating lunch, food choice matters. People could grow tired of the school options, even if there are many of them. There are 180 days in the school year, and eating the same things over and over becomes dull. Packing gives you more freedom to choose what you want to eat.
As Langer mentioned, standing in line is a significant challenge for many students. The uncertainty that comes with finding a seat and someone to sit with makes students dread buying lunch from the cafeteria. Packing lunch gives you more time to find a seat and secure it faster. Students don’t have to worry about someone moving their backpack because they are already sitting at the table.
Additionally, students can eat at their own pace and don’t need to worry about being hungry during class or not being hungry during lunch. They don’t have to rely on the school’s schedule if it doesn’t correlate to their bodies’ needs.
“You don’t have to worry about missing lunch if you’re late or early; you can have it whenever you want, or even if you miss lunch entirely, you still have the option,” sophomore Bella Demko said.
Another consideration is the nutritional value each lunch option offers. Students spend a lot of energy during classes, so they need to replenish with a healthy lunch that supports improved behavior, memory, and the capability to focus. It also enables one to stay clear of a mid-afternoon crash.
The school cafeteria advertises nutritious lunches, but students who purchase their lunch may end up not liking their meal and suffer negative consequences from not eating their full lunch, such as lack of concentration and moodiness. Meanwhile, packing lunch gives students the choice to select a healthy lunch that will actually be eaten. Lunch is a time to refuel and spend time with friends; it is better if students use that time to eat food that makes them feel satisfied, rather than buy the school lunch and not eat it because they don’t find it appetizing.
“I think [packing is] more nutritional because sometimes at school, if there’s not something you like, then you get snacks, and then that’s not nutritional, but if you’re bringing something that is nutritional from home, then you like it, and you’re going to eat it,” Langer explained.
“Well, the school food is kind of gross. There aren’t a lot of vegetarian options,” Demko said.
Theresa Ganow, the food services supervisor who has worked in the district for 24 years, is in charge of ordering everything that goes into the school lunches. She makes sure everyone is completing their jobs and helps the kitchen run smoothly. Contrary to Langer and Demko, Ms. Ganow regards buying as the superior decision.
“It gives the students better diets and more intakes of fruits and vegetables and whole grains…we provide nutritious meals that support students’ health and academic performances,” Ganow said.
While one can appreciate the thought and effort it takes to offer well-rounded meals in the school cafeteria, ultimately, convenience is the reason so many students pack. The ability to avoid the line and the uncertainty of finding a seat with your friends during your one break of the day, along with the wider food choices and freedom that comes with packing a lunch, trumps the benefits of buying in the cafeteria.
