About the Issue
Many East Ridge High students rely on school lunches, but portion sizes and meal quality remain inadequate. Our primary research (Student Survey Results, 2023) shows that 47 students reported portion sizes are too small and 32 students raised concerns about food quality. Furthermore, the Minnesota Department of Education (2022) outlines that free school meals are provided under new legislation, yet portion sizes remain a concern. In addition, Sydney Weber’s article in The Ridge Review (2021) highlights that school lunches have declined in quality over time.
Impact of Poor Nutrition
Health Challenges
Insufficient meals can lead to hunger, reduced energy, and poor academic performance. These challenges are evident from our survey data ((Student Survey Results, 2023)).
Learning Impacts
Nutritious meals improve focus and academic outcomes for students—a fact supported by research from UC Health (2023).
Community Benefits
Improved school lunches can foster healthier habits across the community. This benefit is echoed in the South Washington County Schools Nutrition Services Annual Report (2023).
Proposed Solutions
- Collaborate with local farms to source fresh ingredients for meals (South Washington County Schools Nutrition Services Annual Report, 2023).
- Involve students in menu planning via surveys and feedback sessions (Student Survey Results, 2023).
- Adjust portion sizes based on grade levels and caloric needs (Minnesota Department of Education, 2022).
Mini Bios
JT Jonah
Lead Survey Collector | PhD in Community Nutrition, Harvard University
Contact: jsperraz@apps.district833.org
Hank
Strategist | MPA in Public Policy, Yale University
Contact: hhughes@apps.district833.org
Moathe
Writer & Analyst | BA in Communications, Stanford University
Contact: malghaza1@apps.district833.org
Contact Us
Have suggestions or want to get involved? Reach out at malghaza1@apps.district833.org.
Sources
Primary Sources:
Student Survey Results (2023) – Data collected directly from 102 East Ridge High School students.
Nutrition Services Staff Interview – Insights from school nutrition staff.
Secondary Sources:
South Washington County Schools. Nutrition Services Annual Report 2023. SoWashCo.org, 2023. https://www.sowashco.org/services/nutrition.
Minnesota Department of Education. Free School Meals for Kids Bill. 2022. https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/FNS/SNP/.
Weber, Sydney. “What Happened to Lunch?” The Ridge Review, Oct. 28, 2021. https://www.ridgereview.info/home/2021/10/28/what-happened-to-lunch.
UC Health. “Teen Nutrition Guidelines.” 2023. https://www.uchealth.org/.
Student Survey Results
Primary Research: We conducted a student survey at East Ridge High School with 102 respondents. According to our Student Survey Results (2023), key findings include:
- 47 students reported that portion sizes are too small ((Source: Student Survey Results, 2023)).
- 32 students expressed concerns about food quality ((Source: Student Survey Results, 2023)).
- 19 students highlighted the lack of menu variety ((Source: Student Survey Results, 2023)).
- Only 4 students stated they were satisfied with the meals ((Source: Student Survey Results, 2023)).
This feedback underscores the urgent need to address issues of portion sizes, food quality, and menu diversity in our school lunches.