New York City High School Cafeteria Workers and Students Disagree About Food

On a Friday in December the high school cafeteria menu in New York City offered a Mediterranean bar, Egyptian chickpeas, sweet and tangy braised kale and empanadas. But the food choices didn’t make some students happy. This is part of the bad food we get,” said senior Yoscar Reyes. 

“The Food that is being served right now is healthy. Like Our menu is completely pork-free,” said High School of Fashion Industries cafeteria worker  Joanne Garrett. She was responding to criticism from students about the food. “It’s horrible… some of the food barely looked cooked. And sometimes they are giving the same stuff over and over again. And they say it’s all healthy,” said Reyes.

But cafeteria workers in New York City defend what they serve. Free breakfast, lunch and after school snacks are available to all of New York’s nearly one million students.  Earlier this year there were complaints when the city cut popular items like chicken tenders. Then the administration of Mayor Eric Adams promised upgrades. 

Chalkbeat reported that, “With $150 million in capital funding committed through the city’s recently passed budget, thousands more middle and high schools students will see their cafeteria experiences transformed over the next five years…The changes are designed to make the school dining experience more palatable and the food more appealing.”

High school student Matthew Chong heard about the proposed changes and said, “This is a wonderful plan but the food is not as appealing as they say because what they serve on Fridays is only for those who like to eat vegan which is terrible.” 

Britney Hill, a kitchen helper, likes the new plan. “The changes are good for the students and allows us to season the food with no sodium ingredients and try to make it as fresh as possible for kids to enjoy the food. We understand the food is not always going to be liked by students.”   

Hill explained that she follows what the Department of Education recommends. These changes don’t do anything to us because preparing salad items, hot foods, and, or cold foods, and, or assisting in the preparation of baked items. So I just follow what I have to get done,” she said.

Another student, David Gonzelez hopes the food changes. “Man you know for how long we’ve been eating bad for so long. It’s almost like jail food.  And if these plans are real it changes the way we eat now and for generations to come.”