Lunch trucks should be allowed on high school campuses

A big part of a student’s initiation to high school is having his first lunch off campus. Even though the cafeteria food has improved recently, students still prefer eating food made in off-campus restaurants. 

So why not bring students’ favorite eateries to the school? For a long time, students have proposed that food trucks be allowed on campus to further improve the school's food quality. 

During this year’s Homcoming setup weekend, the school brought in food trucks and they were a huge success. The students loved it.

The problem with this idea is that state policy prohibits food trucks and others from selling food at high schools because it creates competition for cafeterias.

This law started 15 years ago and lately it has become so ridiculous that it has even included silly restrictions on teachers selling food in their classes for money they later donate to charities. 

But the idea of having great food sold to us by delicious local eateries is enticing. Students should have the ability to choose what they want to eat at school, and the school should offer a variety of choices that students can pick from. 

The idea of competition stems from the idea that the cafeteria doesn't stack up well against the would-be food trucks. The school could maintain a fair environment but having the food truck prices be significantly higher than the food made by the cafeteria, $2 to $3 more. 

Students will be able to choose between the higher prices for the food they like and nutritious and cheaper alternatives served by the cafeteria. If food trucks are allowed to come in, students will have more choices to choose from and the cafeteria will have competition: good competition. 

Another benefit of bringing in food trucks is that doing so will help the environment by lowering gas usage. Every day, hundreds of juniors and seniors hop into cars and drives off to their food destination, guzzling gallons of fuel each day.

Take into account the compound effect and what you have is a lot of unnecessary fuel consumption. By bringing in food trucks, students, especially upperclassmen, will be motivated to stay on campus which will ultimately reduce gas usage. 

Additionally teachers loathe when students come in late to class because they went to a location farther than the normal off-campus eateries. With the new food trucks, students would not have to rush to and from campus to get food because the food they enjoy eating is right there on campus.

It is also important to note that the social norms between now and 15 years ago have changed drastically. Before, food trucks were dubbed “road roaches” because they gave off an unsanitary and unprofessional vibe. Nowadays, food trucks serve very clean — and sometimes close to gourmet — food.

California should look to review its policy on prohibiting competition on campus because the trucks would be a benefit to everyone.

The onset of food trucks would signal the dawn a new food era at Saratoga and also a whole new sense of competition: one that is beneficially for all three parties involved: food trucks,the cafeteria and students.