<p>I have noticed that food and snack options have been eliminated or severely decreased at my son's school this year. He is no longer able to go to the dining hall in mid-afternoon and make a sandwich or get a substantial snack after sports before heading off to his 2 last classes of the day. There are many times he is not able to eat a huge lunch due to the fact he has a sports block right afterwards -and he needs that boost around 3:30 to make it through until dinner.
There was also a quote in the Exonian from a football player who was distressed to find that the school no longer provided box lunches (just snacks) on away games. Apparently, the football team left at 11 in the morning for a Choate match-up and did not return until 10 pm. He reported that parents ended up purchasing dinner for the team.</p>
<p>On another thread, I see that SPS has made similar rash decisions regarding eliminating the grab and go breakfast and the Tuck shop. SPS honestly cannot pay someone $8 dollars an hour to manage these places? Really? This concerns me hugely, because the dining hall at SPS can hardly be classified as centrally located. I can see my D never eating breakfast again if she were a current student - not a healthy option.</p>
<p>What are these schools thinking? Is dining services really the best place to enact these budget cuts? My S has had to spend so much money this year at the grill in order to keep from starving during the day; this is a huge expense we had not planned on for this year. </p>
<p>Am I making a big deal out of this or is this something other parents and students are bothered by? Are any other schools being this short sighted and foolish, or just Exeter and SPS?</p>
<p>My son has noticed more repetition in meals (more pasta, more chicken), but not a decrease in amounts or times offered. The team still brings box lunches/or stops for food (at the school’s expense) after away games.</p>
<p>I’m just happy we have juice at lunch and dinner. The funny thing is I had swine flu so it was partially me that brought juice back at all meals. I have been enjoying the better food that they’ve been having for parents weekend though.</p>
<p>Choate has made several large changes in their food options/program.
The Aramark dining service was cut back, according to budget statements and a rumor on campus, but the food has remained the same level of relative deliciousness.
On a very positive note, Choate has hired a company along with several nutritionists to prepare the healthiest meal plans possible. The food quality and availability has not changed, while the options are healthier.
Unfortunately, I have no lunch block on Tuesdays, and since I keep forgetting to sign up for bag lunches on those days, I have no lunch. Its a very awkward situation, and one that is pretty stupid, but you have to deal with it.</p>
<p>With the new leadership in the Dining Services area has resulted in a real upgrade to my D’s dining experience at SMS (Saint Mark’s School). And they started to keep their small dining hall open to provide snacks for whole day.</p>
<p>Saer that sounds like hell… When are you supposed to eat?</p>
<p>My school has expanded our food availability and quality, but we have improved efficiency and the students have to do a bit extra. Sandwiches aren’t premade anymore(Football/Soccer/FH away trips they are) and fruit isn’t cut up so it lasts longer((Like apples/oranges/bananas (Unless it is mandarin oranges or in the main course). </p>
<p>We have Student Center food five nights a week instead of 6(Phillies/burgers/steaks), but we always have fruit and cereal out for sports kids/anyone that needs a boost. I find that the away meals are really nice. A piece of fruit, chewy bar, a bagel, a turkey sandwich, a ham sandwich, gatorade, pretzels and/or a yogurt bar can keep anyone happy… That is what we get every away trip(I normally eat three bagels and a sandwich, they have boxes of food so you can have just about any combo that you want). </p>
<p>I didn’t know cuts were really bad elsewhere…</p>
<p>Luckily at my son’s school, they haven’t cut back on the times food is offered, which is most of the time. The cafeteria is always open between meals with limited sandwich fillings, yogurts, cereals, fruit, etc. I personally think the food is delicious and haven’t noticed a change. My son says he feels there is more repetition, but I think he is becoming jaded.</p>
<p>I don’t think my son’s school has cut back on offerings but this is our first year and I don’t have a real frame of reference. He says that he’s gets plenty to eat each day and fortunately, food services prepare boxed meals for their away games.
Son was blessed with very high-tolerance taste buds so what some kids view as less than appealing meals, he thinks they’re delicious. He informed me this weekend that he and his roommate have been selling ramen noodles, oreos, etc. out of his foot locker and third-rate “fruit” juices to hungry dorm-mates. Apparently, this cottage industry business is booming…</p>
<p>I’m allowed to grab a bag lunch (I never remember to order one…) go to the Tuck Shop, or buy a snack at the school store. Unfortunately, the way my schedule works, the Tuck Shop and the school store are on the other end of campus from my physics lab class, and Tuesdays is community lunch, so the dining hall is not open to grab a sandwich. Last week (the first week of this new schedule) I bought chips and a drink and ate them during break between my lab and my regular physics class.</p>
<p>Oh I gotcha. When I have double science blocks(I take 2 sciences so I have two double science blocks on two consecutive days) I grab a large cup and fill it with cereal and milk. I have time for lunch, but I’ll normally get an assignment or two done during lunch. Or I’ll be posting on CC like now :p</p>
<p>As previous mention, as SMS the new chef and admin at school has meant better food. However my son is starving by 10pm (as teenage boys tend to be) and we have had to bring snacks and cash (for ordering in) as they are not allowed to leave the dorm after 7:30pm.</p>