Whether talking and hanging out with friends, playing games, walking around freely, or even doing work, lunch is when students get to have free time. Most, if not all students are very engaged during their classes, leaving the only part of the day where friends can get together is lunch.

Lunch at ACC is split into three periods: first, second, and third.  As far as population, there are noticeably more people at third lunch, since many people take CTE classes during fourth period. When ranking the lunches for the noisiest, third lunch takes the win again, followed by first. Few students have second lunch, because most people tend to have history at the beginning or end of the day rather in the middle. 

The most popular places to sit and lounge around during lunch are the Commons, booths and tables in the cafeteria, library, and even outside in the benches depending on the weather. A majority of people across all lunches lean more into sitting in the Commons rather than the cafeteria. Unlike other schools, our cafeteria is quite small, and therefore is not where the majority of people spend their lunches.

In regards to the actual cafeteria food, the most popular food items are the nacho bowl, chicken sandwich, hamburger, and pizza. There are over 10 food options on the menu that are made from scratch, preventing any repeated lunches daily.

The menu is written by a nutritionist and has a two-week cycle that is repeated throughout the school year. Additionally, every year, the menu changes three times depending on the season. Recently, starting in early 2022, the lunch staff decided to make a snack bar at the front of the lunch line. The snack bar includes a variety of snacks such as chips, juices, and cookies. 

Muram Alhsan reports, “Pizza’s my favorite.” Nazik Mukhtar recommends the rice bowl, and Fatima states that she prefers the pasta with meat sauce. All are great choices.

As important as school lunch is to your nutrition health, your mental health is just as equally important. Taking your mind off of your classes, especially when overwhelmed, and focusing on another thing can reduce any additional stress.