Mackenzie Acker
Staff Writer

Nestled inside the heart of R.J. Reynolds High School is a center of innovation, creativity, and selfless consideration for students: the RJR cafeteria. Seen as unremarkable to most students, the cafeteria has something to prove. Striving for excellence by implementing new marketing campaigns and a creative student survey, this ‘ordinary’ RJR staple is shooting higher this year. 

“It’s what I come to school for,” sophomore Evie Soriano, an avid school luncher, said. “I love it [the school lunch] because you can always count on it. Whether it’s pizza or a salad, you know it will be consistently good.”

The consistent taste isn’t the only high standard that the RJR kitchen sets for itself. The school lunch served is the supremely healthier option. Dawning customizable salads and healthy wraps, it’s hard to beat. 

“There’s no trans fats, no crazy processed foods, like Chick-fil-A or other fast food,” sophomore Hugh Fitzgerald said. “I mean, it’s very basic healthy food, and it’s good for you.” 

Most students who don’t eat school lunch would never give it a second look, but to these reviews, the quality and taste of school lunch seem to have risen over night. School lunch has improved dramatically over this past year, with some students not yet in on the secret. 

“Our numbers have increased probably about five percent over the last year,” Ron Bradley, the cafeteria manager, said. “We put promos out, we encourage kids to eat more in the cafeteria.”

It’s easy to see the cafeteria’s push in advertising, like their effort to describe the school lunch every day on the announcements. Adding flair and vividity to the recap, the announcements alone have served to push lunch attendance. 

“The lines have been way bigger this year,” Fitzgerald said. “And the food has definitely gotten better.”

The root causes for this improvement aren’t black and white, but efforts by the cafeteria make a difference. One of which implementing experimental programs to try and improve lunch taste, as seen through the QR survey on possible new menu items. 

“They did a taste test on some of the food,” Fitzgerald said. “We all tried different flavors and rated them on a QR code.” 

These efforts by the cafeteria staff don’t go unnoticed. As school lunches are getting more popular, their impact is felt. 

“I think we owe a big thanks to the kitchen staff and what they’re doing,” Soriano said. “They are putting in extra work to improve the lunch, and all we have to do is appreciate it.”