Changes Coming to LAUSD Cafeterias
by Anaelle Tadros
During lunchtime, there’s always a line in front of the cafeteria. Some people enjoy the food and others hate it, but we can all agree that the cafeteria is a good resource when you’re hungry and don’t have anything to eat. Although the cafeteria has its fair share of good and bad days when it comes to food, satisfaction really depends on the taste buds of those eating the menu items. Compared to the past, the cafeteria food offered by LAUSD has actually improved quite a bit over the years. There used to be less of a variety of foods, and they often served warmed up foods in their plastic casings. Several years ago, the district upgraded their menu and really made an effort to serve healthier food and to have more fresh food options. However, not every student has appreciated the changes so now the district is trying to tackle the issue of food appeal in addition to serving healthier items. As of 2022, LAUSD is experimenting with new food choices. According to a source, the district brought in about 30 students in the summer of 2022 to try out some new menu items in an effort to have more choices that the students will eat and enjoy while also keeping it nutritious. Some of the new food items that have been added to their menu are smoothies (which we first saw at the end of last semester), chicken rice and bean bowls, mac ‘n’ cheese, kung pao chicken, nachos, and even different types of cookies.
Aside from the new variety of foods and the fresher appearance, the school district is starting to come up with food options that are flexible for certain dietary restrictions. This means that LAUSD is finally coming up with daily menu options that are good for vegetarians, vegans, and lactose-intolerant people. According to one student, “The cafeteria only [recognizes dietary restrictions] sometimes, and for some religions or cultures.” For example, there are meatless Mondays and fish and salads, but items such as these have not been available every day. They are also planning on expanding their ethnic food offerings by bringing more diverse cuisines from multiple cultures into their menus.
Students at the Science Academy STEM Magnet were surveyed to see what their favorite foods were, along with their opinions on our school’s cafeteria system and how it may be improved. Most of the students believe that the cafeteria system should allow students to choose what they want to eat instead of being told what to choose and feel that this could improve the system because then the food could be given to students who actually want to eat it rather than it just being thrown in the trash can at the end. Some of our students’ favorites are hot dogs, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, nachos, salads, and chicken rice and bean bowls. Hopefully, we will soon see more expanded options at our cafeteria!
Student Feedback Surveys
Multiple students participated in student surveys about the cafeteria food, they were asked:
- Is the food at the cafeteria good or bad? What specifically about it is good or bad?
- What are some of their best dishes?
- In what ways could the cafeteria improve its food?
- Does the cafeteria food show cultural awareness? (for example, for religions that cannot eat animal products at certain times, does the cafeteria have other choices that those people can eat?)
Here are some notable answers given by a few of the surveys:
Name: Anonymous
- What are some of their best dishes?
- “Hot dog and the dish that has chicken rice and beans.”
- In what ways could the cafeteria improve its food?
- “Better rice, they could allow the students to pick what they want instead of choosing for them.”
Name: Anonymous
- In what ways could the cafeteria improve its food?
- “The facility within the parameters of the Science Academy STEM Magnet that serves dishes could build onto their low success by giving [people] the ability to choose item of their preference.”
Name: Anonymous
- Is the food at the cafeteria good or bad?
- “It is mostly bad because the food isn’t fresh and it serves milk instead of water.”
- In what ways could the cafeteria improve its food?
- “Don’t force children to get something they aren’t going to eat, therefore giving more food to the people who want it.”
- Does the cafeteria food show cultural awareness?
- “The cafeteria only does this sometimes and for some religions/cultures. There are meatless Mondays and fish, and salads, but not everyday.”
Amongst the surveys, hot dogs were a favorite. Otherwise, many students wished for more variety and stated the cafeteria’s cultural awareness could improve, but the menu is definitely considerate of certain groups’ nutritional rules. A possible enhancement of cafeteria food would be to allow students to have more of a choice in the school’s menu as to avoid wasting food or dissatisfaction.
Sources
LAUSD students get to taste test new cafeteria food – Daily News
