Lunch is an important part of the school day. It is a time for students to regain energy and socialize with friends. However, there is one important question that students ask every day before school: should they pack their own lunch or eat the school lunch?
Bringing a lunch from home has its downsides. Students may have less time in the mornings or nights because they have to make their lunch, and lunches may not be quite as fresh as school lunch. Additionally, students have to carry their lunch around all day, and they have to make sure that their food doesn’t go bad while they are at school. Even with these downsides, bringing a lunch from home is definitely the way to go. Lunches from home allow for a wider range of choices and students can be sure that their lunch will be appealing to them. Additionally, they will be assured that their lunch will meet any dietary restrictions that they have, and they will have the right amount of food for them.
Students that eat the school lunch often are left hungry, as the school lunch may not be enough to provide the energy needed for teens’ growing bodies. Students also may not enjoy the school lunches, as everyone likes different food. Some students, such as students with allergies, will not be able to eat all of the school lunch because of dietary restrictions. These students cannot be assured that their food was made in an environment that was free of their allergens.
Additionally, students that bring their own lunch can finish their lunches in other classes if they don’t have the chance to finish their lunch at their designated lunchtime. They can also have a more balanced lunch and can have a better way of carrying any extra snacks that they bring to school.
Students that want to eat a hot lunch from home have access to several microwaves in the school lunchroom. If students are worried about perishable products, such as yogurt or milk, a simple ice pack in an insulated lunch container fixes the problem and keeps their food cold. Thermoses can also be used to keep food hot or cold. These products are also helpful if a student doesn’t want all of their food to be cold or if they don’t have a microwave-safe container available. These products expand the options for lunches from home.
While eating the school lunch has its unique benefits such as a fresher lunch, bringing a lunch from provides students with other upsides, such as more flexibility, different types of food, and larger amounts of food. Bringing a lunch from home is more beneficial to students and has more benefits than drawbacks.
