The new school year brings nerves for the upcoming freshman, exciting new classes, and tons of new opportunities for new friends. One thing that the students didn’t think they should worry about is the school lunch. A group of boys at AHS feels passionate about this subject. Sophomores Cole Park, Miles Mundorf, Nathan Keizer, Carter Bengel, and Michael Hotze, refer to themselves as The Hogs.

The boys expressed their concerns with the lunch portions. Students are given a certain amount of food for lunch each day, but what about the people who need to eat more calories and nutrients such as student athletes. How are athletes expected to put in hard effort and all their energy if they simply aren’t getting enough to eat without paying extra for a full meal? 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides a chart showing how much food is recommended for the age category. Michael Hotze, sophomore, noticed last school year that after lunch his energy has been lower than usual. “The board needs to make the change,” Hotze said, referring to the school board. Having more food options is also something that piqued the boys’ interest in the lunch portions.

Fellow students have brought their own lunches to replace the school lunches. Bringing your own lunch lets you pack what you want and how much of it. Packing your own lunch is also helpful for health reasons or dietary restrictions. Another factor to consider is that everyone’s body is different and needs different amounts of nutrients specifically for them. For example a football player’s meal is going to be different from a cross-country runner’s meal. What steps do you think need to be taken?