A major concern amongst high school students is how to eat healthy. A recent article, done by Rachel Barber on healthy lunch recipes, taught students different recipes they could make at home and bring to school. While this is a great option, many students don’t have time or the financial means to make homemade meals. Seth Moffitt, senior, said, “I think our school has made strides to make our lunches healthier, but they still need more fresh fruits and vegetables.” Moffitt is not the only one who feels this way. Many don’t believe they can always find healthy options in the lunchroom, so they settle for what Moffitt describes as, “healthy-ish”. While the school doesn’t often have the best options from the standpoint of nutrition, there are choices that can be made so students are able to get a balanced and filling diet while eating in the lunchroom.
In order to stay full all day, it is necessary people get enough protein in their diet. This can be achieved by getting a sandwich at the sub line or from the grille line. It isn’t unusual, for those trying to be healthy, to avoid carbs. These options might seem scary because of all the bread, but it’s easy to make modifications. When ordering subs, ask for the meat without the bread and place your other ingredients inside the meat to create something similar to a wrap. Sandwiches, both from the grill and in the refrigerated section, can be eaten with only one side of the bun, or with no bun at all. Everyone is different, so there are different ways to modify main meals based on what people want. If someone wants to cut down on sodium, they can ask for their chicken mashed potato bowl without gravy and avoid condiments which are located outside the lunch line.
There are also options for students with diet restrictions. Recently, the school has started to provide baked potatoes and veggie burgers for vegetarians. Potatoes, according to nutritionmd.org, are a complex carb which means they take longer to digest and don’t give those eating them a boost in blood sugar. This is good because they will help students to stay full longer and not crash before the end of the day.
It is common knowledge that fruits and vegetables contribute to a healthy diet, but be careful because some fruits and vegetables can be deceiving. The fruits located directly after the main meals may seem delicious, but they aren’t always the best option. These fruits have been processed and can contain a lot of sugar depending on which fruit it is. It is a much healthier option to take whole fruits from the bowls near the checkout, because these are not processed in any way. Salads are another type of food to watch out for. The pre-made salads already have dressing on them and they can contain large amounts of sodium. If students are looking to add some greens to their lunch, it is easy to ask for lettuce with toppings at the sub line then add a variety of different dressings. There are also pre-packaged salads in the refrigerated section which contain good proteins such as chicken and hard boiled eggs.
The school works to make sure all the meals are the correct portions, but sometimes people don’t fit the norm and need more food than the main meal and a few fruits and vegetables. There are a lot of great ala carte options, but there are also some options students should avoid. Chips, fruit snacks, and bars like the chocolate cherry bars, while delicious, provide students with lots of calories and not a lot of nutrients. Healthier options, such as granola, will help people to stay full and provide them with some sweetness from the raisins and chocolate chips.
Students also should be wary of drink options. Don’t be hooked by the promise of energy and electrolytes. It would be the best option for students to bring their own water, so they don’t have to spend extra money. But if people are planning on buying a drink from the school, they should stick to water. It’s important to stay hydrated and according to medicaldaily.com, “Drinking water can improve the brain’s ability to complete tasks that require a rapid response.”
It’s important to remember that everyone is human. There are going to be days where eating healthy doesn’t sound ideal. There are cheat days for a reason. It’s okay to eat a cookie occasionally, if everything is taken in moderation.
