Junior Clare Toman of Spring Lake Heights clicks “snooze” on a deafening alarm clock each morning. She has a tight morning schedule during the school week and typically does not save time to make her own lunch, along with many other students at CHS. Some are able fit this into their morning routine, while others rush out the door and rely on school lunches.

According to the School Nutrition Association, more than 30.4 million children wait their turn on school lunch lines each day, and others bring their own lunch. Whether it has to do with a busy morning or food preference, there are many reasons why students choose to either buy or bring lunch.

Toman said she buys her lunch every day because she wakes up “too late in the morning.” The restricted time makes it hard for her to pack her own food.  

“I get a bagel, apple and a Snapple [from school] every day,” Toman said.

Freshman Lynne Walenjus of Wall brings her lunch every day.

“I chose to bring my lunch because I don’t like standing on line for lunch every day,” Walenjus said. “My mom usually packs me a sandwich and water… If my mom was unable to pack my lunch one day, I would consider buying from school.”

Senior Rachel Wolson of Bradley Beach brings a lunch to school every single day, but sometimes she will pay for additional food.

“Sometimes if I know that there’s pizza or smiley fries, I want some so I buy it anyway because I love food,” Wolson said.

The cafeteria staff take the students’ preferences into consideration when they decide what to cook.  

“Every month, we come up with a menu and we try to pick things that are favorites to the kids. If there are foods that students tell us they like, we try to include it in our menu,” said cafeteria worker Lorraine (whose first name would like to be kept anonymous).

Students like Toman do not have time to pack a lunch. Others, such as Walenjus, do not like waiting on the long lunch line.  Clicking “snooze” on a deafening alarm clock may work for those who buy lunch at school but definitely not for students who need the time to pack for themselves.