School food has become an integral part of a teenager’s daily life. However, the quality and nutritional value of school meals often fall short, posing significant risks to the health and wellbeing of growing teens. This opinion piece aims to shed light on the reasons why school food can be very unhealthy for adolescents, highlighting the potential consequences and advocating for necessary changes. School food often lacks the necessary nutritional value that growing teens require. Frequently, meals are processed, and not adequate for the average teen. These things contribute to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, and other health issues among tennagers. The absence of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains deprives adolescents of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber which are crucial for their  physical and cognitive development.

Another concerning aspect of school food is its tendency to provide imbalanced meals. Many school cafeterias prioritize convenience and cost over nutritional value, resulting in unbalanced combinations of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. This can lead to unstable blood sugar levels, affecting concentration, mood, and overall cognitive function. Lack of proper nutrition  can also damage the immune system making teens more susceptible to illnesses. School food is often repetitive and lacks variety, offering a limited range of choices. This leads to boredom and decreased interest in consuming nutritious meals. When teens are not given the opportunity to explore diverse food options, their preferences might be mixed and could develop an unhealthy relationship with food in the long run. Additionally, the absence of creativity in meal preparations fails to encourage students to make healthier choices outside of the school environment.

Some examples I could use even from my own school could be the repeating of all lunches, not only that but the missing number of vegetables in sandwiches, and protein. In Palmer for breakfast if you want coffee, you can’t get breakfast, due to there being a one meal per person and coffee counts as a meal. As there is only one free serving per student, this causes lots of students to steal food from the school cafeteria due to lunches not being sufficient . School food plays a vital role in shaping the health of growing teens. As a school community we should try and develop these males for the benefit of the students. By maybe changing some options like burgers that are purely carbohydrates, with maybe a healthier and more protein-based meals. To conclude Palmer’s food department needs to increase their selection and change their nutritional value.