Peter the Great once said “Destiny may ride with us today, but there is no reason for it to interfere with lunch.” The lunchbox is a quintessential image of American childhood. Whether packed by their hands or their parent’s, the boxed lunch deeply reflects a student’s background and culture, from peanut butter sandwiches to Asian stir-frys to neat bentos. So what are the students who don’t eat from the cafeteria bringing to lunch?
Junior Camila Melendez comes from a Hispanic background and frequents Mexican markets for her ingredients. Her lunches often incorporate Mexican foods, as well as lots of meats and spices.
“Today I have birria; it’s cow meat with chili,” Melendez said.
In addition to her main course, Melendez enjoys bringing candies and snacks that she has grown up with, often sharing with her friends.
“There’s something called Japanese peanuts, which are super common in Hispanic culture,” Melendez said. “They’re basically peanuts with a shell that’s kind of soy sauce, and then it has chili. I also bring fruits, which have something called chamoy, a chili sauce.”
Her mom prepares the food, and Melendez packs it. The pair both wake up around 6 a.m. to have time to prepare.
“Food for us holds a lot of meaning, especially with other people, so I do value it more. But honestly, if I’m in a rush, I’m just going to pack a PB&J,” Melendez said.
Ishanvi Ghelani’s culture also plays an important role in what she brings to school. Her mom, and sometimes grandmother, prepare her Indian-inspired lunches.
“One [food] would be white rice cakes. Another would be chapati, different versions of chapati that we make,” Ghelani said.
Ghelani is a track athlete. On average, track athletes need to consume a higher percentage of carbohydrates to fuel up. Customizing her lunches not only makes them more enjoyable, but ensures that they suit her specific needs.
“Bringing lunch from home, you can obviously cater to your own dietary requirements, like whether you need extra food, if you’re in a sport or in general,” Ghelani said. “Usually I’ll need something with more protein or more carbs; stuff like that.”
Junior Nicole Ahn draws attention to some of the environmental benefits of bringing lunch from home. Not only can it be more convenient, but it also can use up leftovers from dinner the previous night.
“I usually bring fried rice,” Ahn said. “It’s something we eat often and relatively easier to make, and even when it’s not fresh it’s still good. I also bring katsu, dumplings and quesadillas.”
Even then, meals don’t always have to be practical. School offers the perfect space for social lunch. Sharing snacks with friends; connection is more than vital for today’s teenagers. Even if the cartoonish and flashy-colored lunchboxes look silly, they embody the culture and community of each person sitting around the table.
