In recent years, it has become increasingly common for people to talk down on school lunch as disgusting sludge, but I think it’s time we have a serious conversation.

Are some lunches better than others? Yes. Are there also certain lunches that are amazing? Absolutely. You can’t honestly tell me that you don’t get excited about walking tacos on a Tuesday or buffalo chicken flatbreads on a Friday. 

Even the basics hold their own. On any given day, you are guaranteed to have pizza (which has drastically improved recently) or chicken patties as an option. If you aren’t feeling either of those, there is a wrap and salad option that rotates daily. That’s the best part; there is always something for everyone.

I’m not saying by any means that I enjoy every single lunch option that’s available, but I know that if I don’t want the main option available on any given day, I can rely on a slice of pizza or a chicken patty to get me through the day.

Even the salads and wraps are slept-on options, especially the chicken Caesar salad because you really can’t go wrong with a good salad.

Another overlooked aspect of school lunch is its overall convenience. Many students don’t have enough time to pack a lunch everyday, and school lunch provides a cheap, nutritional meal. For some families, school lunch plays a vital role in ensuring students have a substantial meal throughout the day.

A common complaint against school lunch is the lack of portions. While I do partially agree that at times the portions for the main meals are not satisfactory, every day there are numerous fruits and vegetables, specifically apples and bananas that can supplement the meal.

By no means is it Michelin-star quality, but it’s a dependable midday meal that doesn’t deserve nearly as much hate as it receives.