Ah, cafeteria food. The bane of every student’s existence– well, at least, it was before the great shift of the 2024-2025. Suddenly, Cafeteria food became edible, flavorful, and diverse. What students once gagged at has become the very thing they dream about the entirety of their 5th or 6th period. Fairfax County has most definitely stepped up their game when it comes to their food options, and for my last article as a senior at Westfield High School (as someone who has seen the highs and the lows of the food they serve here) I’m going to talk about it.
Asian veggie subs with spicy mayo, fish tacos, bean and cheese pupusas, and chicken tikka masala are just a few new options that are available during lunch periods for Fairfax County Public Schools students to buy and consume. Some items are marked as halal, and others as vegan or vegetarian, offering a wide range of options to a variety of students from all different backgrounds, religions, and dietary restrictions.
For a very long time, cafeteria food hasn’t exactly been the best, especially for students with dietary restrictions. In the past, most dishes consisted of meat and there were little to no options for vegetarian students. Furthermore, Cafeteria food was rather unhealthy in the past, so it’s extremely important that they’re releasing new nutritious options that can help support the health and wellbeing of students.
Furthermore, there’s another group that the quality of cafeteria lunch has a massive effect on– Students who receive free and reduced lunch. Students from lower-income backgrounds often aren’t able to get the proper food they need at home, so they depend on the free lunch that schools provide. This is another reason it’s so important to have good lunch served for students– If these students were to eat greasy pizza every single day, what do you think would happen to their health?
To get a better understanding of other ways that having variety in the school lunch menu impacts students, I decided to interview a couple people.
“It’s important to have good food because it’ll help students become more energized and focus better in their classes. Nutrition is very important, and this has been proven through research.” Remarked Alina Sikander, 12
“Some people have dietary restrictions, and I feel like we need to honor that.” Stated Priya Bhangu, 10
“The food is so skibidi toilet rizz gyat kaicenat.” Exclaimed Niranjana Ezhilarsan, 12
In conclusion, the cafeteria food at this school has MAJORLY evolved since I was a wee little freshman at this school, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I hope the following generations will enjoy these new options just as much as I did.
