Dunkin Don’t: Banning Outside Food

Kyle Orens, Managing Editor, Sports Editor

Dunkin DOnuts Food Policy
Reactions vary as Hawks lose the privilege of commercial breakfast.

Photo Courtesy of Dunkin Donuts

The new school year at UHS has started, and it is filled with new policies, especially food policies. You now are highly discouraged from having your parents bring you outside food from places like McDonalds, Jimmy Johns, Jersey Mikes, all those good places, and having the food delivered to you at school. Assistant principal Jack Sclar said “The main reason is because the government subsidizes our lunches, so they don’t want kids advertising outside food.” If students do choose to order food, they have to eat their delivered meal in the AP office.

Justin Hoppenrath, a tenth grader, said, “I believe that the rule is unfair, I want to be able to order food from McDonalds, have my parents bring it to me, and be able to eat it in the lunch room.” Justin also says that “it is unfair that teachers bring in outside food while we are discouraged.” Principal Jay Berno said, “The teachers lunches are not subsidized, so they can eat and bring in anything they want.

Jake Wills, a tenth grader, said that he “understands the rule and feels like it is reasonable,” but also thinks that it’s “kind of dumb.” Jake said that “students deserve to have fun with their friends at lunch.” When asked if he thought having to eat in the AP office made getting food delivered worth it, Jake said “Perhaps, it could be fun, but would probably be quite boring.”

Another big reason for making kids eat delivered food in the AP office is food allergies. In fact, 15 million Americans have food allergies, and 1 out of every 13 kids under the age of 18 have food allergies. Whether that allergy is peanut butter, dairy, red dye, blue dye, or many of the other allergens, the school is responsible for keeping the kids with allergies safe.

Assistant Principal Mike Chavez said, “If parents bring in food, the kid will have to eat in the AP office.” It’s as simple as that. Chavez did say however that “students can bring in leftovers, but again, they cannot have food delivered by a parent.” Chavez said “I understand that it is important to protect student health” when asked how he personally felt about this rule.

Does he think having to eat in the AP office makes having food delivered worth it? Chavez said, “A kid came to the office to pick up a meal, but when he was told that he would have to eat in the AP office, he told his dad to bring the meal home, and that he would eat it for dinner, because he wanted to stay with his friends.”

Not only is delivered food discouraged, but so is the use of the vending machines. Since the government gives UHS funding for lunches, they don’t want the drinks available during lunch to compete with the drinks in the vending machines, so, according to Chavez, they “simply shut them down.”