Sandra Vidrio
EL CAJON, CALIF. – Kevin Heard, a Sunny Hills High School junior student, presented at the State Board of Education in Sacramento why bringing healthier and more varied food options to schools is important.
Public highschools already offer affordable and free food, but Heard proposed they need to start offering a wider menu variety to fit their students’ needs. Heard mentioned that many students with different diets such as vegetarian and pescatarian are struggling to find something that fits their needs besides “frozen jelly sandwiches.”
Grossmont is not exempt from these concerns. According to an article written by Alana Mullay for The Summit, The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Fundation (GCCCD) provided grants for food carts back in 2023, with affordable food such as pizza slides, fries and fruit cups all available for no more than $5.
However, this food would not fully satisfy students’ with a special diet. “As a vegetarian, I try to eat healthy, but the options on campus are pretty limited. There is a lot of fast food and processed stuff, which is not really in line with my lifestyle” said Alex Martinez, a Grossmont student majoring in Nutrition, “I wish there were more fresh, plant-based options, like salads, wraps, or even vegetarian hot meals that are actually nutritious.”
Then there are the vending machines option. “Vending machines are convenient, but they’re not the best when it comes to healthy options,” said Martinez, “Most of the time, they’re filled with chips, candy, and sugary drinks. While there are sometimes granola bars or trail mix, even those can be loaded with sugar.”
Many students also study in the afternoon, and due to their schedule, it is hard to get a “real meal” on campus. According to the Grossmont web page, the cafeteria closes at 3:30 pm, and the Java Market closes at 3 pm. “The cafeteria closing so early makes it tough for students with late classes or tight schedules. It feels like there’s not much flexibility” stated Martinez, “If they could extend the hours or bring back some of those food carts, that’d make a huge difference” he added.
The students’ health is important for their performance at school as food is the motor to achieve success. Each person attending college is in a different situation and has a different story; some have jobs, others have families, and many others simply have different activities that make it harder for them to cook for themselves, relying on food on campus. It’d be great to have more convenient, healthy options available at Grossmont, so I wouldn’t have to rely on snacks or unhealthy food just because it’s the only thing accessible.” Martinez stated.
Sources:
Alex Martinez
Nutrition student in Grossmont
The Summit → https://gcsummit.com/14485/a-e/culinary-arts/grossmonts-newest-food-additions/#
