| Some improvements have been made in the Minnechaug cafeteria, but there are still some unsatisfied customers. I am a junior here at the school and I have enjoyed my lunch time experience because they lunch ladies are friendly, and the facility is clean. The only positive upgrade that has been made in the past two years is the increase in the size of the milk. Lunches made from staple items should be available on hand everyday on an individual basis. For the price we pay for the lunches, we should be provided tasty food and a fair quantity. Recently, I was unable to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made for me. I requested one because I did not want to pay $2.50 for a shredded iceberg lettuce salad, or BBQ rib on a roll. The response I received to my question was, "We do not have the ingredients to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, they are only offered occasionally." I am thinking this doesn't make any sense because every day they offer turkey sandwiches as an alternate lunch. Peanut butter, jelly and bread should be staple items kept on hand at all times. The offer should be put out there for students, like me, that do not want to be forced to eat something that they absolutely do not want. Last year, orange juice was available as a drink choice to go with your lunch. This year, they only offer chocolate or regular milk. Any other drink, water, Snapple, vitamin water, is all extra. Orange juice was an excellent beverage to offer to students because some of us do not like to drink milk with their lunches. Orange juice is a healthy choice for many people, so there isn't really a good explanation to have it removed completely from the beverage choices. The price of the lunches also increased from last year, and lunches now cost $2.50. You would assume since the price of lunches went up, they would be better quality. But that is not anywhere near the truth. For the price we pay we should be getting quality and quantity. Some students buy two lunches, just to satisfy their hunger, that's $5 a day on lunch just at school. It would be much more filling and satisfying for me to go to Burger King and pay $2.10 for a Whopper Jr. and a small fry. At least that will not be depleting my bank account, and it will hold me over until my after school snack. Overall, I know that these suggestions will be put into consideration. I am the voice of the many students who look forward to some positive changes in the future. Changes involving the availability of staple items, the quality and quantity will be a great benefit for the Minnechaug community. Marissa Zucco Springfield |
