With Better Options, More Students Choosing to Buy Lunch

Last year, new federal guidelines on what food and drinks schools can serve meant smaller portions for lunch, less appealing options, and more students bringing their own meals. One year later, less strict regulations has the students of the Foxboro School District buying their lunches again.

“They (the regulations) loosened up a little bit, that’s why you’ve seen a tremendous effort to try to provide food that you want to eat as well as buy,” superintendent Debra Spinelli said.

According to business administrator Bill Yukna, the school district brought in about $83,000 in revenue from lunches in September compared to $62,000 during the same period last year.

“I think a lot of the changes Alison (Johnson, director of food services) was making has to do with the program overall,” Yukna said. 

Unlike last year, salad bars have been installed in schools across the district. In addition, the middle school and high school are now serving smoothies and have the ability to make real pizza.

“If you walk in now, you can see it’s gotten a much better review from the students and staff,” Yukna said

The changes are getting praise from the students at the high school as well.

“Just seeing the improvements with the smoothes, the pizza, and the salad bar, everyone loves it,” student representative and Foxboro High School student Colleen MacDonald told the committee. “I know everyone is pleased with the new improvements.”