Cheap Lunch Alternatives

by Victor Benavides, Insight, November 12, 2008

Lunch prices have changed eating habits. Students have been starting to make a couple of changes in their everyday lives, and for some, that includes getting their lunch through different means. Rather than buying the usual pizza, subs, or Gatorade, many students have started packing their lunches.

            “I use to buy more pizza but now my mom packs me lunch. It’s just easier and cheaper,” said sophomore Alina Baez.

            It seems clear that our school is overdoing the lunch prices, the meals students could easily afford with their allowance are no longer available, and starving yourself has started to become the only result for students too lazy to pack their meals.

            "Im not going to pack my

 own lunch and be one of those lame kids everyone makes fun of, besides I don’t wake up early enough. I’ve stopped eating. I’ve gone on a life long fast," senior, Michael Napoles, joked.

 Obviously most students prefer eating than starving themselves.  An option such as having to register for free or reduced lunch has become a necessary reality for some. According to the Clerical Support Personnel of the year, Terri Brenes, approximately 2,000 students have resorted to free or reduced lunch applications. Standing in those tedious lines waiting to get lunch at a more reasonable price is now the final solution for some students. But that is not the only lunch alternative out there. 

             Making choices that save more green in your wallet is necessary. If applying for free or reduced lunch is not for you, perhaps packing your own lunch is, or if worse comes to worst, freeload.

            “I don’t eat, but I ask people for food. Freeloading!” said sophomore Amanda Martinez.

            So rather than spending a dollar on Gatorade and two on pizza, try this, pack yourself a sandwich  the previous day and buy a two liter Publix soda for 69 cents, or go with alternative options. Save your bucks.