How much time do I really need for lunch? As a student currently attending Salida High School, I can personally say I would much rather have a longer lunch than a shorter one, but does it benefit students to have longer lunches? Let’s dive into the comparison of longer versus shorter lunch periods.
Lunch times at other schools range from 25 to 45 minutes, allowing students to get their food with time to eat. Sophomores and upper-classmen at SHS can leave campus to get food, eat and be back in time for their next class. However, there are no federal or state policies regarding the length of lunch time, which means it falls to the district to choose how long students’ lunches are.
One benefit of having a longer lunch is that students have way more time to socialize. Socialization is a crucial part of a teenager’s day, and lunch time is a big part of that. If you have a shorter lunch time, you have less time to socialize with your peers or friends.
Not only does lunch give students more time to socialize, it also gives them some time away from academics. It gives students a break from the difficult math and reading that they spend most of the day on.
Some studies have shown that students who have a longer lunch are more likely to have a more nutritious and filling meal. Shorter lunches can lead students to consume unhealthy snacks and energy drinks, instead of the nutritious food they need to get them through the day. With a shorter lunch time, students rush to get into line at the cafeteria, only to stand there for a long period of time for food. For the students that go off campus, there is even more pressure to leave and get back to the school in the small amount of time given.
As students enjoy their longer lunch times, they may not realize the downsides to having a longer lunch. One disadvantage of having a longer lunch is that class periods may be shortened, or the length of a school day may be extended to fit in more class time. This means that sport activities might be pushed back. Shortened time in class also means that students could have more homework, and we all know that homework is the death of students, especially student athletes.
Lunch time is considered with lots of pros and cons that come into play depending on the amount of time. Yes, it’s nice to have a long lunch and get good food. However, it’s also great to have normal class lengths and a shorter school day for extracurriculars. In the end, let’s all be grateful for the time we are given for lunch, and make the most of it.
