By:Giselle Kuang, Staff Writer

School lunch is a great way for students to “recharge” their brains before continuing their  day. It’s also a great way for students get their intake if they aren’t able to bring lunch from home. The quality of the food versus the price we pay for food is sub par.

According to the School Nutrition Association the average school lunch price is $2.47. School lunch at Mills costs $4.50, a whopping 180% increase in price. Seeing as our school doesn’t even include a fruit or vegetable without having to ask for it separately, that’s a pretty big price increase. For such a steep price, one would expect the food to be higher quality. Instead, it can be argued that the quality of the food is below average at best.

The school lunch at Mills lacks nutritional value and taste. The options mostly consist of pizza, chicken tenders, nachos, and the occasional salad. The food tastes bland, and with the high cost of food you’d expect it to be more appetizing for students.  The school also offers the same numbered options every day. This school year, Mills tried serving “healthier” options, yet our menu remains the same as previous years. And with that, it seems appropriate to say that while our school is diverse, the food options are not. We lack major food groups, which is a problem, as teenagers are at a critical state of development, and can’t afford to be putting such poor quality food in their bodies.

    School lunch is a critical meal for students to refresh themselves in the middle of a grueling school day. Teenagers need good quality food to develop properly, but instead Mills serves them poor quality food and charges it an unaffordable cost.