As Berkeley High School students reflect on their journey through Berkeley public schools, many remember the elementary school rush of joy when their class would get let into the cafeteria for lunch. Some would bring lunches with them from home, or Lunchables that everyone would admire with jealousy, but countless would get in the cafeteria line to get school lunch. Throughout their years, many students would develop a connection with the cafeteria staff, greeting them by name or even conversing with them. However, as students have gotten older, some of their desire for school lunch has faded, leading to a change in how they view the school lunch program. Berkeley High’s school lunch system is something BHS students have grown accustomed to, often without fully appreciating its impact. BHS students must value the importance of the access they have to school lunch, and in doing so, more often partake in it as an option for their day-to-day lunches.
Ever since returning to school after the pandemic, BHS — and all other Berkeley Unified School District schools — provides the option for free breakfast and lunch to all students and faculty, every school day. This ensures that anyone who needs a meal has access to one, regardless of financial circumstances. This program is not just a helpful system to have in place, but an essential resource that many students rely on, even if it goes unnoticed by the larger school community.
“I’m able to get the food and nutrition I need without having to worry about the cost,” Cailin Reid, a freshman who often gets school lunch, shared. “We’re really privileged to have it be so accessible, and it’s nutritious. I think people forget how good we have it,” she continued. Reid recognizes the help it provides students and the BHS community overall. She also expressed how the convenience, availability, and cost-effectiveness of free school lunch has made a difference in her everyday routine, allowing her to have access to healthy lunch without needing to worry about taking the time to make it in the morning or resorting to buying it off-campus.
“I think a lot of people complain about school lunch, like ‘Oh, it sucks,’ but honestly, it’s not that bad,” Reid said, “It tastes good and it’s pretty healthy.” Many students refuse to eat school lunch due to negative ideas they have about the taste, size, and the overall appeal of the lunches, but have rarely tried them, and are expressing unsubstantiated stereotypes. Having preconceived notions about the lunches without even having tried them goes against the openness of thought Berkeley students are taught to embrace.
Additionally, plenty forget about the critical role this resource plays in supporting the nearly 30 percent of BHS students who may not have another option due to cost. For many high schoolers, school lunch is way more than a convenience BHS offers; it’s a necessity. Being properly fed is crucial for not only physical health but also for academic success. The connection between hunger and learning is clear — well-fed students have higher energy, are more focused, and better prepared to work well in the classroom. Berkeley High’s lunch program, while considerably imperfect to some, is a building block, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Part of being well-fed for the day is eating a healthy and balanced meal. While it can be fun to go to Trader Joe’s and get juice or Target to get candy, neither of those “lunches” have anywhere near as much nutritional value as a school lunch would have. The lunches vary from burritos to pizza, and the permanent salad bar. The lunches consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, vegetarian options, and importantly, the meals are almost all made from scratch. For most, all of these lunches are way healthier and more satiating than the broken-up snacks students often eat throughout the day after buying them from nearby stores.
As we look back on this system, it’s necessary to recognize that school lunches are an option that needs to be considered more often when students are making lunch plans. Many schools across the world don’t provide their students with tasty and nutrition-filled meal programs, much less offer them to all students for free. BHS is lucky enough to offer this service, and while its taste may not be perfect, its importance must not be understated. As students, it’s time to utilize what’s available to us and understand that this program supports not just individual needs, but the well-being of the entire school community.