February is typically the hardest month of the school year. Winter feels long and waiting till summer. For seniors especially, February can feel like counting down the days until graduation while still trying to get through each school day. When asked by many seniors what they look forward to in these few months they said lunch.
In months like this, lunch matters to save the day, or it can ruin the day. This February, senior Danica Agsulad decided to rate nearly every school lunch on the menu, giving each mean an honest score one out of ten.
The beginning of the month starts on a rough note with lunch rated a 4/10 for BBQ chicken Pizza and Garden Salad with Seasoned Potato Wedges. Danica expressed how she typically does not enjoy BBQ Pizza in general. The next day Danica rated the French Toast a 7/10, ironically the French Toast is not even her favorite part but instead the sausages.
For lunch, kids are able to have a choice between hot lunch or an alternative option like salads or sandwiches. While some students stick to safer alternatives, Danica focused mainly on rating the hot lunches which only have one choice.
As the weeks went on, things improved on Dancia rating. A few lunches landed in the 6/10 and 7/10 range, earning what could be described as “respectable.” Then came the high points. A handful of lunches earned 8/10, 9/10, and even 10/10 ratings. Danica’s favorite variations of lunches were the ones with taco meat, specifically the Nachos served with “creamy cheese sauce’” and a mini corn muffin. Many students agreed with her ratings, with several saying they only choose to buy lunch on taco or nacho days.
Another meal scored a 9/10, proving that when the cafeteria gets it right, they really get it right. Danica truly loved the flavors for the Mandarin Orange Chicken served with fried rice and vegetables. Of course, February lunches would not be complete without some low scores. Several lunches earned 1/10 and 2/10 ratings, which Danica described as not her cup of tea.
One of the most memorable moments of the month came from a 5/10 lunch that was almost forgettable, until one side item saved it. As Danica put it, “the garlic knot brings it together.” Without it, the meal would have ranked much lower, proving that sometimes it’s the side dishes that determine the fate of an entire lunch.
Looking at the month as a whole, Danica’s ratings reflect the true February lunch experience: unpredictable but occasionally surprising. Proving that school lunches are really not as bad as everyone seems to make them. In the end, Danica’s ratings prove one thing school lunches may not always be perfect, but they still are good.
