The school’s lunch options have been  changed as a result of new USDA-mandated regulations known as Smart Snacks and Schools. This program stipulates many changes including that the grains in the cookies must be whole grains.

As a result of the program, the lunch format has been changed to include a build-your-own Creation Station, an option for Domino’s pizza as a hot lunch and the ability to purchase wraps or sandwiches as a hot lunch. All of these options are for the regular lunch price of $2.35. The Creation Station option rotates each week and allows students to make their own lunch based on that week’s theme of Italian, Mexican or Asian. The Domino’s pizza option includes a single slice of pizza and all of the sides of a normal hot lunch, while using a formulation made especially for schools. Similarly, students can buy a wrap or a sandwich with the hot lunch sides.

Director of student nutrition Amy Droegemeier is excited about the changes.

“The one thing I’ve seen already is more participation from the students,” Droegemeier said. “I think it’s been good. I’ve heard many good things about the Creation Station, especially the Mexican bar.”

These changes have made it more difficult for the school’s kitchen staff to prepare food.

“It’s harder because we offer so many more choices,” kitchen manager Jean Gile said. “It’s more work, but we’ve gotten some positive feedback, so that’s good.”

Although, the workload is tougher, Gile is optimistic about the changes.

“I think it’s made it better. Mainly that’s because there are more choices for the students,” Gile said. “In the past, there was just hot lunch and a la carte, and the a la carte was expensive.  Now, we offer wraps, sandwiches, Domino’s and sides. Now free or reduced meal kids have that option also.”

Some students are dissatisfied with the new options, especially the now-mandated whole grain cookies.

“The cookies are bigger, but they taste worse,” sophomore Shawn Hill said.

Sophomore Kasey Meeks also chooses to eat healthier as the new changes allow her to do so.

“I tend to lean towards the sub sandwich kind of thing,” Meeks said. “Sometimes I eat salads, and the protein option also seems very healthy.”

Although some students aren’t happy with the new cookies, the district is attempting to find cookies that reach a compromise.

“For school meals, they’re here to stay. We’re trying to find formulations that are tasty and healthy,” Droegemeier said. “The option is either to offer whole grain cookies or not at all.”