Youth Radio's Jennifer Obakhume says students at her LA school would rather skip the cafeteria altogether and hit the vending machines and fast food restaurants nearby. She’s addicted to her lunches of candy bars and grape soda, and is disappointed by the loss of some vending machines on her campus. She doesn’t eat school lunches because of the discouraging prices: junk food is cheaper.
Although she thinks it’s admirable to try to get teens to be healthy and lose weight, she doesn’t think school districts or the government should legislate the eating habits of students. “It would take more than Congress to change teenage eating habits. Frankly, the Underworld would have to freeze over first.”
Jennifer says she can bet “my glazed honey buns, doughnuts, grape soda, and tacos lunch” that junk food will always be a more attractive option than cafeteria food.
Photo Credit: Sara Harris, Youth Radio