Students should have the trust and ability permitted by authority to door dash to school or travel off campus to purchase lunch.
In the age of instant gratification, DoorDash, Grubhub and UberEats thrive and stimulate local economies becoming commonly associated with teenagers. With technology like this food of all kinds becomes easily accessible to kids and teachers alike. For many students, the appeal of DoorDash is obvious. School lunches, while sometimes nutritious, aren’t always the most appetizing. Some students don’t have time to pack a lunch, others want a change of pace and pallet.
This added convenience can be seen as a perk for upperclassmen who can drive, have their own money and deserve the freedom and trust to use it as they wish. There are many who take online courses third hour, leading into their lunch, which are self-paced and should allow students the freedom to leave and return the same way students are allowed to leave when they have an online course first or sixth hour.
School lunches aren’t always the most appetizing or nutritious. Many students complain about the limited variety and questionable quality. While some schools have improved their cafeteria menus, the options still don’t compare to what’s available outside of school. By allowing students to DoorDash, they could choose meals that fit their dietary needs and personal preferences, ensuring they actually eat instead of skipping lunch altogether.
For students’ brains to function at their greatest capacity they need to eat real nutritious food and not think about an empty stomach. Having this assured option that even when you forget a lunch you will be able to get food that fits your dietary restrictions is so important. There are many students and staff alike that are gluten free due to celiacs or by choice as well as vegan and vegetarian which are not options adequately supplied by the high schools.
Some might argue that ordering food would be chaotic, but it could actually teach students real-world skills. Managing an order means students have to budget their money, track time and be responsible for picking up their food without disrupting class. Schools could implement designated delivery times or specific pickup locations to keep everything organized.
Hungry students are simply not productive and there are simple solutions to schools worrying about random delivery drivers showing up, but that could be solved with a secure drop-off system at the front office. As for fairness, not everyone may be able to afford daily delivery, but banning the option altogether doesn’t help anyone. Students who can bring home-packed meals aren’t stopped from doing so, so why should those who prefer delivery be restricted?
Allowing DoorDash wouldn’t just make lunchtime more enjoyable; it would contribute to student happiness, focus and even responsibility. Schools should consider modern solutions to modern problems—because a well-fed student is a successful student.
