A hotly debated topic here at Academic Magnet is whether a school lunch or a homemade lunch is a better option. In this article, we will finally find the answer to this age-old question, and give our reasons on why we think each of our lunches is the best choice for an Academic Magnet student. We will start with the lunchbox and then continue to school lunch. Keep reading for the answer!
In the society we live in, many students tend to follow the quick and easy route of a school lunch. Even though it is the easiest, it is still less fulfilling than a homemade lunch. Many of the students willing to put forth the effort don’t know where to start. My name is Jack Troy and some of my peers would say I am a pro at packing my lunch. In this article, I will try my best to explain what pertains to a perfect lunchbox.
To start, you will need a sandwich which can either be a turkey sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (specifically with raspberry jam). This is the main part of the lunch that you will bring to school. Next, you need some snacks for fuel throughout the day, including fresh fruit and packaged fruit. Fresh fruits include strawberries, blueberries, and grapes. These fruits are my favorite because they are easy to pack, but you can choose fruits of your choice. When it comes to packaged fruit, I usually eat it before swim practice. I typically bring things such as Welch’s fruit snacks and GoGo Squeeze. These give me energy throughout the day and allow me to have something quick to eat before I hit the lanes. Some snacks that are something to eat for carbs are pretzels and chips (specifically red harvest garden salsa Sun Chips or Cape Cod salt & vinegar chips). These are great to eat throughout the day in between classes, both in 
the morning and the afternoon. Since my practice is right after school I always also include a Fairlife protein shake because it is easy to pack and drink on the go. While this is my perfect lunch, the possibilities of a great lunch are endless. Overall, the most important aspect of packing a homemade lunch is the fresh food you can enjoy, compared to the frozen or reheated food in the cafeteria. The freshness of a home-packed lunch is unmatched and the better option.
But what about school lunches? Orange chicken is one of the best .. It has been a long-time favorite and consistently delivers as being the best meal of the week. Recently though, the quality in my opinion has gone down. The pieces of chicken are getting smaller, and there is less sauce. Despite these recent flaws, this is still the best meal at Magnet. The uniqueness of this dish makes it something to look forward to each week. Shout out to General Tso.
Pasta with sauce is a classic meal that appears almost every week in the cafeteria. It’s a consistent lunch, always providing nutrition and energy for the second half of the school day. The noodles however are often greasy as is the tomato and beef sauce on top. I always add the parmesan cheese.. I think this adds to the dish and takes it up a notch, but I’m a big parm guy. The plating is also a little questionable. Eating it from a plate is difficult so I suggest the cafeteria put the dish in a carton, much like the ones the wings are put in.
Walking Taco is a new addition to the menu at CCSD, but it’s one of the best meals. Making its splash last May, it immediately made its presence known. It features a Doritos bag with ground beef in it. The cheesiness of the Doritos matches perfectly with the saltiness of the beef. You can add toppings as you please, such as cheese, sour cream, and jalapenos. I think this puts it above other meals because of the freedom it allows people to choose what they want.
The chicken sandwich is a classic within the Magnet cafeteria. It used to be served almost twice a week, but recently it has become a secondary entree, like the pizza. Back when I used to get it every week the chicken was consistently bland and I had to cover it with ketchup for it to have any flavor. This all changed last year with the introduction of Charlie’s Sauce. This is a Cane’s sauce knockoff that can somehow add a little flavor to the bland circle that is the chicken sandwich. I have not gotten the chicken sandwich yet this year, but I expect it to be more of the same.
Cheeseburgers are usually a familiar favorite among lunch eaters, not in the Academic Magnet cafeteria though. The patties of the cheeseburgers are strange and are uncomfortable to look at. Even putting ketchup on this strange creation cannot save it. At least there are usually fries or tater tots included with the meal, so you have something to eat for lunch.
Chicken smackers and mac and cheese are honestly my favorite lunch at Magnet. It’s a rare lunch which makes it even better when we do have it. The cheesiness of the mac and cheese is perfect and the chicken adds protein to get you through the rest of the day post-lunch. The best part of this meal is that if you do not want chicken one day you can just eat the mac and cheese, and vice versa. I like the carrots too!
In conclusion, we came together to agree the lunchbox is the best choice for a student. it is a more balanced, healthier, and creative option. Also making your lunch at home allows you to customize and choose exactly what you want for lunch that day. Instead of settling for subpar cafeteria food, bring a lunch from home that you are excited about.
