After providing lunch to students on campus for 10 years, Jean’s lunch truck will not return due to the administration’s decision to provide healthier lunch options.
Various vendors now sell their lunch options on different days of the week: Luna’s Italian food on Mondays, Pita Pit wraps on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Pick up Stix Chinese food on Wednesdays and a club-sponsored lunch on Fridays.
“The lunch truck was taken away because of the unhealthy qualities in the food,” Ericlee Gilmore, wellness council director, said. “The wrong food can affect athletics, academics and personal health. We are just trying to make things better for our students.”
Some students began each lunch period in line at Jean’s lunch truck, waiting to purchase anything from french fries to a bag of Skittles.
“I bought food from Jean many times,” Ani Paparigian, ’09, said. “If I did not have enough money, he would sometimes let me off the hook or I would pay him back when I could. I am really sad to see him go.”
Contrary to the administration, others believe the change will not influence students’ personal health.
“The school allows seniors to go off campus for lunch, healthy or not,” Carson Hopper, ’08 alumnus, said, “so the removal of the lunch truck is a very minor victory for those against unhealthy foods. I don’t think it is going to change the way kids eat.”
Some students resent the limited food options and prices.
“The food is good, but it is really overpriced for the amount that is given,” Courtney Franz, ’10, said. “Also, when Jean was still here, if someone only wanted something small like a bag of chips, they could get it. Now, we would have to buy another whole meal.”
For more information, e-mail Ericlee Gilmore.