Lunch at Newtown High School

School lunch has always cost money for those in public schools. The price of these lunches has also usually followed the rise and fall of economic trends and inflation in the US. However, in my personal opinion, school lunches have become far too expensive especially considering the recent economic struggles in the United States.

            The rise in lunch prices has made it difficult for families with financial struggles to feed their children during the day. On average, foods at the grocery store cost less than a dollar per unit. Two slices of bread costs 30 cents, a piece or two of deli meat costs 25 cents, a slice of cheese costs 25 cents, that's less than a dollar for a sandwich. It costs 42 cents for a small bag of goldfish, an apple costs around 40 cents and a small bag of carrots with some ranch costs about 25 cents. This means, in total, a balanced meal can cost a little over 2 dollars. However, a school lunch usually costs double that, despite the food being bought in bulk and reheated in the school’s kitchen.

The price keeps going up, even though they have limited nutritional value and options available. A study done in 2023 with 1,000 students from around the country showed around 50% of students didn’t enjoy school lunch. Among these students, 87% said they would be more likely to enjoy the lunches if they were able to give feedback on the meals. Not only are students in the US paying too much for lunches, they’re also paying too much for lunches they don’t enjoy. 

            While it is understandable that schools also need funding for things like renovations and to pay the hard working staff, that money should come from somewhere else. School lunch is often a thing some students rely on. Some kids go to school in order to escape home, meaning affording lunch shouldn’t have to be another worry of theirs. 

            This could also be a reason as to why some students can’t bring lunch from home. Many people suggest a home made lunch as the solution to this issue, but it’s not that simple. A lunch from home requires time, as well as driving to the store in order to buy the pieces for it. Not every parent has the time or resources to do so, much less the money. On the more unfortunate side, if a child is struggling with familial relationships at home, they may not have someone who is willing to make their lunch for them, which again highlights why school lunch is so important. 

            There are resources for students, like financial aid which can help them to get free lunch, but not every student who needs it is able to apply, or willing. One in five students who need financial assistance don’t apply for it due to the thought it may be embarrassing or they won’t qualify. This can lead to kids not eating lunch during the day, which can be dangerous to their growth, and even negatively affect their education.

School lunch doesn’t necessarily have to be free, but it doesn’t need to cost as much as it does. By having high prices, it only encourages children to buy cheaper, more unhealthy food that has no nutritional value. I think the budget should be shifted in a way that makes school lunch more affordable and accessible for many.