School food is crucial for a good learning environment. 

Most WJPS students rely on school breakfast and lunches from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, whether it be Cheerios and applesauce or vegan burritos. 

WJPS 12th grader, Abihail Luque said, “I get school breakfast every morning and it isn’t the best, but it’s okay. School lunches give small portions and not many options.”

WJPS 12th grader, Valentina Londono said, “Some of the food is pretty good, but we need a wider variety. Some students are limited and we should be inclusive.”

Beverage choices are also minimal. The only other drink besides water offered at WJPS is milk and students who have dietary restrictions may not be able to have milk. We should have more options such as different types of juices.

Students who would not like the hot lunch being served that day have the choice of cheese or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Neither option is nutritious or healthy. Some students say the cheese sandwich tastes like plastic, and the PB&J are made out of sunflower seed oil.

New York City DOE schools should have more nutritious food options since it will keep students  energized throughout the whole school week.

“Classic school lunch. Yum.” by Ben+Sam is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.