Let’s rank the school lunches from worst to best. Which lunches do students want on their plate?
Before the ranking begins, let’s start by saying the lunch ladies at Potomac Falls are amazing. They’re always smiling, kind, playing music, and making sure everyone gets the meal they’re hoping for. The issue with the school lunches has nothing to do with these nice ladies that are just coming to work everyday and making lunch for everyone.
The real issue is the general lack of funding for public schools in America. Virginia public schools have the National School Lunch Program and Virginia Department of Education to blame for the lackluster lunches.
School lunches are often extremely unhealthy, greasy, and leave students feeling hungry afterwards. Sometimes neither option looks great so students skip lunch or only eat a bag of chips.
With this being said, some of the meal options are really great. Students never know what they’re going to get. Let’s dive into the best and worst of our school lunches.
- Buffalo dip
The buffalo dip is literally a pool of oil with tater tots buried beneath the layers of grease. This is a prime example of how unhealthy and greasy school lunches can be. Nothing screams healthy like eating tater tots drenched in grease.
11. Cheese pizza
The cheese and pepperoni pizza suffers from the same issues as the buffalo dip. It’s extremely greasy and you can see the pools of oil on top of the cheese. This lunch option is slightly better than the buffalo dip because the oil can be dapped off with a napkin.
- Asian style chicken nuggets
The “Asian” chicken nuggets are confusing for several reasons. For starters, why are these nuggets considered “Asian”? The sauce is slightly tangy but the flavor, taste, and ingredients are not strictly from Asia. The second puzzling feature of these nuggets is that they are always burnt. Sometimes they are so burnt students have to peel off the outer layer of the nuggets in order to eat them. There are other types of nuggets that are not burnt, so why are the “Asian” nuggets always burnt to a crisp?
- Sunbutter and jelly sandwich
The sunbutter and jelly sandwich is an option for when both meal options look bleak. One positive of the sunbutter and jelly sandwiches is that they are served everyday. They are a solid and nostalgic option but they are slightly bland. Sometimes the sandwiches have so much jelly and sunbutter that they pour out the sides of the sandwich when you bite into it.
- Chicken and waffle
The chicken and waffles are a solid choice for when you’re feeling hungry. The only confusing part about this meal is that the “waffle” isn’t a waffle. The chicken patty comes alongside funnel cake. Despite this, the chicken and funnel cake is tasty and comes lightly dusted with powdered sugar.
- Pizza crunchers/monsterella sticks
The pizza crunchers and monsterella sticks are being placed together because they are so similar. They’re both a solid option and come with tomato sauce. The monsterella sticks and pizza crunchers are a staple in American public schools.
- Crispy popcorn chicken
The popcorn chicken is always a nice option. The nuggets aren’t burnt or too greasy. It’s a simple meal that’s enjoyable and another staple of American school lunches.
- Chicken sandwich
The chicken sandwich is another staple in American public schools. It’s a classic and pretty tasty. Sometimes the sandwiches are a little dry but this is fixable with some ketchup. The sandwiches also have some variety as there’s a spicy and regular option.
- Hamburger
The hamburger is another good staple to have in the lunch line. The hamburgers are tasty and come with the option of fresh tomato, lettuce, and sometimes onions. The fresh elements of this option make it higher on the list. It’s not too greasy and also comes with a cheese burger option too.
- Pasta with beef sauce
The pasta with beef sauce is a great and uncommon option. The pasta is a little crunchy but the beef sauce is amazing. Oftentimes school lunches can seem a little small but the pasta is a perfect serving amount. Students don’t feel hungry after eating the pasta.
- Nachos
It’s not an understatement to say the school nachos are amazing. Whenever students see nachos on the menu or on other student’s trays, a smile creeps onto their faces. Students have the option of liquid or shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa, and jalapeno peppers. The beef on the nachos tastes fresh alongside the fresh tomato salsa and guacamole. The level of customization of the meal only adds to the delicious crunchy tortilla chips.