Higher Snack Bar Prices Equal Smaller Portions
MVMS students are paying higher prices for burritos, pizza and turkey sandwiches this year under a new law signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.
The state Food Nutrition Standard Bill, which went into effect July 1, requires entrees such as pizza, burritos and hamburgers to be less than 400 calories, with a maximum of 4 grams of fat per 100 calories. The effort to reduce portion size and get rid of fats seems to have pushed prices up.
If students think the higher prices mean larger portions, they are in for more bad news: the new state law also requires schools to provide smaller meals at middle school cafeterias and snack bars.
The result is a burrito that cost $2.00 last year now pinches a student’s pocket for another $0.50. Turkey sandwiches cost $0.25 more than last year, and a cheese or pesto pizza has gone up $0.50 to $2.50. These increases seem modest, they but add up over the course of the year.
If students think they are getting ripped off, how do parents feel about this change? “I give my child around $15.00 to $20.00 a week to buy snack bar tickets. This much money should last at least two weeks at a time.” says MVMS mom Kira Keane.
By Jack
STAFF WRITER
The higher prices have spawned more beggars and moochers around campus.
“Every day people ask me for snack bar tickets, even though I say no every time,” said 7th grader Ethan on how he copes with snack bar beggars. “I only get $10 a week and I need every last bit of it to buy my lunches. If I give any away, I come up short on Thursday or Friday.”
Last year, $10 a week might have been plenty, but this year, something like $10 a week is cutting it close due to higher prices, and more people asking for money in the MVMS snack bar lines.
