A new addition to the cafeteria menu has made the make-your-own bowl station a phenomenon among TCS students, filled with fresh ingredients to make the student’s meals healthier. While students rave about the new healthy options and choices, there are also very long lines that take up some of their lunchtimes. In a series of interviews, students shared what makes this option a hit-or-miss. 

For many students, the bowl station gives them the opportunity to control their meal’s nutritional value. Having the chance to choose what to put on your bowl gives students the opportunity to be in charge of their own diets and preferences. 

For student-athletes, for example, the bowl station stands out to them since they value more their nutrition and prefer healthier options that assure them for better performance in their sports. 

“As a student-athlete, I like to eat the bowl as my daily lunch because I can choose what toppings are best for my health and what I prefer, giving me the chance to eat healthier at school,” Tomas Arrubla, Senior, Captain from the men’s soccer team said. 

While the build-your-own bowl offers some benefits, some students have noted some drawbacks in the bowl’s station practicality. Some TCS students have complained about the wait time to acquire your bowl, stating that lines get too long. 

“The biggest problem definitely is the lines… there are gigantic lines about 20 to 30 minutes, so it’s very difficult to get a bowl,” Samuel Zuniga, Senior, said. 

Despite limitations, some students even mentioned their favorite toppings, the majority agreed that the best was the mandarin chicken, a sensation among students who eat bowls. 

“My favorite topping is the mandarin chicken, it’s so different and innovative to the other protein Serviexpress offers, and they’ve made something nutritious and delicious,” Zuniga stated.  

The bowl station has also brought to light some previous concerns about health within the cafeteria’s options, in which students stated that healthy options were limited. 

“I believe that the health issue that was once a problem has been kind of solved because of the bowl. They brought a more delicious option rather than a salad,” Miranda Oliveira, 11th grade student said. 

In the end, despite the long line for acquiring the bowl, students have expressed their enthusiasm about a new lunch option, highlighting the health benefits and advantages that it brings to students at TCS.

“If the line was shorter I would get to eat a bowl more often, but I take the time to do the line because it is simply delicious,” Arrubla said.