By J1 Reporter Molly McChesney 

Curious students are interested in why Marian lunch is so different from public school lunch. Little do these students know the reason lunch is so different is because the lunch staff is able to make lunch without following federal guidelines. The reason that the school does not have to follow federal guidelines is because the school does not get federal funding for school lunches.

The Nebraska Department of Education’s website says: “School districts and private schools that choose to take part in the lunch program receive cash reimbursement and donated commodity assistance from USDA for each meal they serve.” Marian does not receive money from this lunch program, so they do not have to serve food within the guidelines. 

Because they do not have to follow federal guidelines, this allows the lunch staff to use their creativity and make students fun and healthy meals. Mr. Bob Hurtado, the current man behind the school’s lunches, said: “I wouldn’t want to work in a public school because the federal guidelines would limit my options and my creativity.” 

The Marian school lunch is quite the step up from public school lunches according to sophomore Zoey Cannon Minnifield who went to Monroe Middle School, an Omaha Public School. Minnifield said, “Marian lunch is much better because there are more options and the food has more flavor.” 

Some of the student favorites are burrito bowls, walking tacos, orange chicken and homemade mashed potatoes. In the cold lunch section, students can choose from salads, sandwiches, wraps, fruit cups and yogurt, as well as a variety of drinks.

Students can thank the fact that Marian does not have to follow federal guidelines for lunch so students can have different food choices each day. Also, students can thank the lunch staff for their creativity and skills for giving students healthy lunch options every day.