Hayley George, Features Editor
@hayleygcourant1
Most students spend the first and second=d blocks daydreaming about the meal that takes place during the third: lunch. Whether it be a break from the hour and thirty minute classes, or a moment to finally complete that last-minute math assignment, lunch gives students a chance to escape from the classroom. As soon as the bell rings during the third block of the day, a herd of students quickly pace through the hallway in order to quickly reach the destination of their feasts.
Once students reach their junior and senior years, they are granted off-campus permission; this opens up a plethora of opportunities and a treasure chest of restaurants to explore during their lunch breaks. “I’ve had my fair share of eating in the cafeteria during my sophomore and freshman year, so now that I can drive, I like to go and get food off campus,” senior Elizabeth Grosz said.
Going out to lunch is extremely popular among the upperclassmen. “I almost always go out to lunch during the lunch block; I think it’s a more relaxing and enjoyable way to spend time with my friends compared to being in the cafeteria, and there are a lot more food options,” senior Nicholas Stratszky said. “I also like to use my newfound freedom now that I can drive out to lunch.”
Because of the high school’s proximity to the center of New Canaan, students are able to choose from a large selection of delis and cafès for lunch. “When I go out for lunch, I go to CT Sandwich or Tony’s Deli,” Elizabeth said. “I like getting the Sweet and Spicy and green juice from CT Sandwich. At Tony’s Deli, my go-to order is the Pippi-Longstocking.”
Nick also enjoys ordering from local restaurants. “I typically go to Tony’s, Zumbach’s, or CT Sandwich, but if I have a free during the lunch block I sometimes go to Chipotle or Chick-fil-a,” Nick said. “My favorite meal to get is the grilled cheese from CT Sandwich and the bowl that I always order when I go to Chipotle.”
Given only 30 minutes to eat and get back to school, many students who chose to go off-campus for lunch experience challenging time limits. “Going out to lunch can sometimes decrease the amount of time I have to eat lunch, especially since there can be a lot of traffic leaving the school,” Nick said.
Because of this time crunch, many students do not have time to enjoy the food they bought. “I rarely have time to sit and eat somewhere,” Elizabeth said. “I usually will eat on the drive back or in my car in the parking lot. Lunch would be more enjoyable if I had more time to relax and eat.”
Recently, our school added a scan-out line and blocked off the Waveny exit during the lunch block. Because of the amount of students that choose to go off-campus for lunch, the lines to exit the school can often be long and cut into the limited time students have. “I’m trying to leave but there are seven cars in front of me, and this takes away from my time to eat lunch and get back to class on time,” Elizabeth said. “I think an easy solution to this problem would be adding another scan-out at the Waveny exit so that people can leave through both ways and time won’t be lost.”
Because of this limited amount of time, many teachers, like Ms. Bosco often have students returning to class late. “I’d say probably that the majority of them do come back on time. But last year, a large chunk of my AP Government class went to Chick-Fil-A every day until I used a map to show them that it was not geographically possible for them to get there and back in 25 minutes,” Ms. Bosco said. “Being late, especially if it is from third lunch, can really mess up the end of a class.”
Despite disagreement with varying alternatives, it would be difficult to shift the school’s schedule for new lunch times. “It forces you to eat too quickly which can lead to unhealthy food choices, digestion issues and poor eating habits that can continue into adulthood,” Ms. Bosco said. “ But what is the alternative? Extending the school day to accommodate for longer lunch times? Shortening classes and causing potential learning loss in favor of healthy eating habits? It’s tough to get around.”
Every quarter, each subject (with the exception of science) is assigned a different lunch time. “Every lunch period has some advantages. With 1st and 4th lunch, there’s no interruption to class. But I think both students and teachers need a break by the time 4th lunch comes around, so sometimes having 2nd or 3rd lunch is just the break we need to make it through the rest of the day,” Ms. Bosco said. “Some days, there’s a natural lull in the lesson that makes the lunch break inconsequential; other days we are just about to hit a major breakthrough and then the bell rings. The lunch times can be a blessing and a curse.”
In regards to the cafeteria, many students have mixed feelings about the food. However, sophomores, like Payton DiCamillo, are limited to eating lunch in the cafeteria. “In the cafeteria, I usually eat muffins, salads, and sandwiches. I also eat snacks like chips, but my favorite meal is definitely the sandwiches,” Payton said. “Next year, I will definitely go off campus for lunch, because I can get better food.”
By dining in the school, students are able to get to and from the cafeteria to class very easily. However, eating in the cafeteria provides a time for socialization, which often cuts into the time students have to actually eat. “I do not feel that I have enough time at the cafeteria to eat and enjoy my food,” Payton said. “Because I talk with my friends at lunch, I often feel rushed and wish that I had more time to eat. If we had longer lunches, I would be able to socialize, relax, and enjoy my food instead of being pressured to eat quickly.”
In regards to distance, quality, and time it takes to prepare food, seniors like Nick and Elizabeth ranked their absolute top choices when it comes to dining out. “Honestly, I would say my favorites are Tony’s Deli or CT Sandwich because they are both very fast and efficient. I also love Liz Sue, but only when I have enough time to go there,” Elizabeth said. “For coffee, I like Zumbach’s and Starbucks, and then for meals, I like Liz Sue, Tony’s, and CT Sandwich, because they all make the food relatively quickly and are not far away.” Nick said.
