Jocelyn Flores

Lunch lady’s getting ready to serve lunch.

Over half of Morton East students eat cafeteria-served breakfast and lunch.

According to an article published by Ingenious Culinary Concepts titled School Cafeteria Food Facts, in the past 13 years, cafeteria-served breakfasts and lunches have gotten increasingly healthier. There has been a visible 41% improvement in school lunch nutrition followed by a 44% improvement in breakfast nutrition as well.

Additionally, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) article on school meals, school-provided meals are, in fact, nutritious. Research has shown students who participate in school meal programs tend to have a better quality of diet than nonparticipants. Consuming school-provided meals has been correlated with superior attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better exam results.

According to Google AI Overview, students who consume their school breakfast or lunch have low or nonbehavioral problems compared to their peers. Hunger always affects a student’s academic performance and behavioral performance.

In a survey of 96 Morton East students, 54 (or 56%) said they eat cafeteria meals.

“I think the reason many students like their lunch period is because of the congenial environment the cafeteria provides, which encourages them to socialize and explore the cafeteria’s lunch options,” said senior journalist Jocelyn Flores.

“My favorite cafeteria-served breakfast is the sausage biscuit,” said Security Luis, a staff member at Morton East.

In comparison to those who eat school breakfast, there’s a notable difference between those who eat breakfast and those who don’t. The difference being that one has a preferred menu item, while the other does not.

“I don’t have a favorite cafeteria that serves breakfast. I don’t eat breakfast,” sophomore Shaddai Gomez said.

There are many students who don’t like getting breakfast in the morning in comparison to those who love getting breakfast in the mornings.

“My favorite cafeteria-served breakfast is the Uncrustables paired with the vanilla iced coffee,” sophomore Melany Perez stated.

Students interviewed showed similar interests in the breakfast menu. The most popular breakfast item seemed to be the iced coffee paired with the Uncrustables or the sausage biscuit.

“My favorite cafeteria-served breakfast is the Uncrustables,” senior Nonantzin Contreras stated.

There are some students who like having lighter meals while there are some who like heavier meals.

“My favorite cafeteria-served breakfast would be the sausage biscuit,” junior Ixchel Garcia stated.

There is a large number of those who like having heavier meals in the morning in order to concentrate on school.

“Mi desayuno favorito es el burrito ya que siento que es más completo a la hora del desayuno,” dijo senior Andrés Zapata.

Otros estudiantes, al contrario, sienten que su desayuno preferido son los desayunos calientitos.

“Mi desayuno favorito es el sándwich de mermelada de mora que viene con un café de mocha ya que me despierta,” dijo junior Edwin Pérez.

Otra contradicción es que los estudiantes dicen que el café helado de mocha los despierta más y los hace sentir más preparados para empezar su día y aprender.

“Mi desayuno que me gusta consumir es el café ya que me despierta,” dijo Isaac Aldana, senior.

Hay mucha comparación, a muchos estudiantes les gustan las mismas bebidas.

“Mi desayuno favorito es el café frío porque me despierta, pero cuando hace frío agarro el caliente,” dijo Geraldi Álvarez, junior.

Hay muchos estudiantes a los cuales les gusta comer algo que los llene y hay otros a los cuales les gusta desayunar ligero.

“Mi desayuno que me gusta es el cereal porque me gusta y porque es ligero, y por las mañanas no como mucho,” dijo senior Antonio Tovar.

Students were then asked what their favorite lunch item on the menu was.

“My favorite lunch meal from the cafeteria is the meatloaf,” staff member Security Luis stated.

Some of the thoughts of students and security guards are different.

“My favorite lunch meal from the cafeteria would be the Chinese food. Specifically, the orange chicken,” sophomore Melany Perez stated.

Other students at lunchtime prefer to eat something filling while others prefer something lighter and healthier.

“My favorite lunch meal from the cafeteria would have to be the sandwiches. They’re decent,” sophomore Shaddai Gomez said.

More students prefer similar lunch items.

“My favorite lunch meal? The sandwiches. They’re good,” senior Nonantzin Contreras stated.

There are students who choose to eat something that had not returned for a long time.

“My favorite cafeteria meal would have to be the spicy chicken sandwich,” junior Ixchel Garcia stated.

While some eat something they like, others eat something to get by during the day.

“Mi almuerzo favorito de la cafetería es el sándwich de albóndigas porque es lo que más llena,” dijo Andrés Zapata, un senior.

Cuando unos ven qué comida llena más, otros eligen algo simple ya que no se animan a comer algo diferente.

“Mi almuerzo favorito de la cafetería es la pizza de pepperoni,” dijo Edwin Pérez, un junior.

Al igual, hay estudiantes que solo quieren comer lo que les gusta.

“Mi lunch favorito es la hamburguesa y los hot dogs,” dijo senior Isaac Aldana.

Los estudiantes que solo les encantan algunas comidas, en caso de que no salgan, comen algo que dan de segunda opción.

“Mi comida favorita de la cafetería son los macarrones con queso y, si no los dan, digamos la pizza de pepperoni o de queso,” dijo junior Geraldi Álvarez.

Finally, students were asked if they liked or disliked their lunch hour and why.

“I do like my lunch hour. I have 6A lunch. It’s a pretty good time to have lunch. Plus, I have an early break at 9 a.m.,” stated Security Luis, a staff member at Morton East.

Students and staff with later lunch periods tend to be in accordance that having a later lunch is better than having an earlier lunch because it’s a good time to eat since it gives their bodies time to digest.

“I do like my lunch hour. I have 5A lunch and feel that it’s not too early. It’s alright,” senior Nonantzin Contreras stated.

Additionally, it seems fifth-hour lunch gets more support for being a good lunch hour since it’s in the middle between fourth-hour lunch and later sixth-hour lunch.

“I have 5A lunch. Yes, I do like my lunch hour because it feels like the right time to have lunch. Plus, I know many people there,” sophomore Melany Perez stated.

Finally, fifth-hour lunch seems to be the preferred lunch as another student states they do not like their lunch hour, in contrast to those who have fifth-hour lunch. Those who have the last lunch feel they are being starved due to there being a very low supply of food by the end of the day.

“I have 6B lunch. I don’t like my lunch hour. It feels like the school is starving us by that time since there’s barely any food due to 6B being last-hour lunch,” sophomore Shaddai Gomez stated.

Although some people may dislike early lunch as well, it’s not as bad as those who dislike the latest lunch hour. Even though fourth-hour lunch may be disliked for being too early, it’s really not that bad in comparison to having a later lunch, if students are lucky to get any.

“I have 4B lunch. I honestly don’t like it because it’s a little too early, but it’s not that bad. I’d rather have lunch 5th hour because it’s not too early nor too late,” said Ixchel Garcia, a junior attending Morton East.