![Alexander Oki ‘28 picks up trash in the lower parking lot Feb. 20. According to Keep America Beautiful, the majority of the trash found on both roads and waterways consists of fast food wrappers and packaging, receipts and plastic beverage bottles. Clubs like the National Honor Society (NHS) offer students the opportunity to earn service hours by cleaning up the trash in the parking lots. “[The trash] makes us look very unhygienic and unmotivated to be a proper school,” Emberlyse Vidal ‘28 said. “It makes us look like we just don't care about our students' environments.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260220_1355020-2-1200x904.jpg)
The bell rings, and students crowd the hallways, excited for a short break from their studies. Exhausted and hungry, many students fill the tables with lunch boxes and trays. These trays, filled with anything ranging from fresh fruit to hot and oily pizza, are provided free of charge to feed anyone registered within the school district.
Nutrition is one of the most important factors of growth and development, so how do schools play a role in providing the proper nutrition for students?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, schools are required to provide five meal components per serving, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat/fat-free dairy products.
High school age students typically require a diet ranging from 1,800 to 2,800 calories daily, varying with factors such as age, gender and physical activity. Some macronutrients that are particularly important for a student’s health include protein, calcium, fiber and iron.
According to the Douglas County school district, all lunches meet the standard requirements for a “nutritional” lunch. Although these requirements are clearly stated, many consumers of these meals don’t believe they accurately meet these standards, with concerns for the amount of sodium, oil and sugar found in public school lunches.
“I definitely think [school lunch] should be healthier,” Addison Rogers ‘28 said. “I also think there should be more options because not everyone likes the same thing.”
Although the nutritional value of school lunches is controversial, it is important to note the positive impacts it has provided for students by having a cost-free option.
“They give lunch to kids who don’t necessarily have lunch,” Rogers said. “But they can also promote poor nutrition.”
Some students misuse this privilege, discarding or wasting their free lunches from the cafeteria. Some of these items include packaged or dried fruits, fries, and other side components.
“A lot of kids kind of abused it,” Security guard Michael Mullroud said. “Either they put it in the recycling, or they just throw their food away.”
Although some people are concerned about the quality of cafeteria food, others stress that the quality Douglass county provides is reasonably better than other districts.
“I think Douglas County does have a good portion of better food than other districts,” said kitchen manager Diana Calise. “I think we have a lot more healthy options than we ever did.”
School lunches, although a good resource for students who need free food, pose a concern for many staff and students who argue that the quality doesn’t seem to meet the standards that schools claim to and is often less fresh or nutritious than implied despite being a better option than some other districts.
Brunda • Mar 30, 2026 at 4:43 pm
I agree! Though our school lunches aren’t the healthiest meals ever, I think our staff make an effort to include nutrient dense aspects like fruits and vegetables.