Inside an Elementary School Cafeteria

Most elementary school students look forward to lunchtime to break up their school day, chat with friends and to eat. Parents may remember their own school lunchtime fondly or not so fondly. Either way, lunchtime in school cafeterias is a little different than it used to be. As a parent volunteer at my son's school for the past four years, this is what I have learned about lunchtime in an elementary school cafeteria.

The Lunch Ladies Have an Easier Job

When I went to school, the lunch ladies actually cooked our lunches. We had homemade spaghetti and meatballs, homemade meatloaf and several other entrees that were actually pretty good. Now, most schools have food service contracts. Chartwells is a large company that provides food for many schools, from elementary schools to colleges.

The lunch ladies at my son's school get pre-packaged food from Chartwells. They have to warm the food up, but nothing is made in the kitchen anymore. There is not much variety in the school menu. My son's school has the same weekly menu. Every Monday, either a chicken patty or chicken nuggets are offered. Every Friday, pizza is served. The days in between are equally predictable.

The Lunchroom Monitors Have a Tougher Job

Rules and regulations during lunchtime are a little different today than they used to be. Because food allergies are more prevalent than they were several years ago, lunchroom monitors have to be aware of the children with life-threatening allergies. Many lunchrooms have special "peanut allergy" tables. Any children with peanut allergies need to sit at this table and no one with peanut products is allowed anywhere near it. Likewise, children who bring peanut products in their lunches need to sit on the opposite side of the room from the allergy table.

The days of trading food are also gone. Schools are afraid that an unwitting student will trade an allergen-laden food to an unsuspecting friend. So, all food trading is banned.

Lunchtime is Quick

Lingering over lunch is no longer an option. Parents of young students will sometimes find that most of a packed lunch comes home untouched. When asked, the child will often say she didn't have time to eat. Kids are still allowed to socialize with friends, but that doesn't leave much time for eating. Elementary school students can have as little as twenty minutes to gobble down their lunches. Those students that buy lunch use up some of their twenty minutes waiting in line and end up with even less time to eat.

Lunchtime is Loud

This probably hasn't changed much over the years. Students finally have the freedom to talk to their friends after being quiet for most of the day. The lunch monitors keep on top of the students to make sure everyone stays seated and doesn't yell or get out of control in other ways, but they realize that the students need to unwind too. The din of a hundred or so students all talking at once can be quite loud. Being a lunchroom monitor is not for the faint of heart.

Parents of elementary school students should be aware of what is served for lunch at school. If the thought of pre-packaged food is unsettling, then sending a boxed lunch is your best choice. To not limit your child's seating in the cafeteria, be aware of rules regarding allergens in the food you send and don't be surprised if a little chatter-box brings home most of her lunch uneaten.