When former First Lady Michelle Obama enacted the Hunger Free Kids Act in 2010, schools nationwide authorized funding for child nutrition and school meal programs. As a result of this act, Maize South High’s food menu has changed dramatically.

At Maize South, students have frequently complained about the whole grain snacks offered for both breakfast and lunch. At the start of this school year, we have already been served less whole grain and gluten-free options than previous years. Drinks available for purchase have continued to be either zero sugar or diet, which provides students with low calorie drinks.

¨We are getting out of serving all healthy foods now, Pizza Hut day we can give regular pizza and the Pop-tarts are all regular now,¨ said Michelle Sanborn, head cook of Maize South’s cafeteria.

Although Maize South has plenty of options for snacks, there has to be a few more important menu changes. Last school year, the serving area handed out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for students. 

Most teenagers would not be satisfied with gluten free bread as their lunch. Junior Ralph Corriveau is pretty sure that most students are not on board with the gluten free craze.

“I hate the whole grain snacks, I don’t know anyone who like them,” said Corriveau.

Students are also given free milk as a part of their lunch. However, students with lactose intolerance are not able to drink the milk and instead must pay for a different drink that their body can fully digest. Providing a free drink with a meal purchase is the right idea, but charging lactose intolerant students for getting a drink other than milk is not necessarily the fairest way to do it.

Instead of focusing on giving students healthier substitutes of food, schools should aim their efforts to provide their student body with food substitutes that they can digest easily for the same price.