Despite the vast number of students at New Providence High School, there are limited places to eat lunch. The two main places students eat are the hallway or cafeteria, and students have differing opinions of the best place to enjoy a midday meal.

A large number of students believe the cafeteria is best. This could be for a variety of reasons.

Freshman Heidi Dowden purchases her lunch in the cafeteria kitchens. She not only gets her food in the lunchroom, she eats it there too. Plus, if she forgets anything or wants to go back for an extra snack, it’s easily accessible.

She eats in the cafeteria, she said, because “It’s closer to where I buy lunch.”  

Dowden also said, “It’s not as much travel once you get the food. You don’t want to walk halfway across the school just to eat your lunch.”

Emma Timpone, a junior who prefers to eat in the cafeteria said, “It’s nice having the table there.”

The numerous options for seating in the cafeteria are definitely a positive appeal to hungry students. There are small and large tables, and booths to choose from. These options could be more comfortable than the hallway floors, making the cafeteria a possible favorable lunch environment. For Timpone specifically, she prefers the cafeteria because of the large, round tables she sits at with her friends. 

Many other students prefer to sit in the hallway.

Usually, there are a lot of students sitting in the cafeteria and sometimes there is limited seating available. The abundance of people also makes it very loud there. Some students find it convenient to do their homework during lunch, and it can be very distracting to hear all the students in the noisy lunchroom, especially if they’re trying to concentrate. It can irritate them if they’re just trying to relax and enjoy their food as well. Some of these students retreat to the hallway.

Hunter Reilly, a freshman sitting in the hallway, said: “The hallway is less crowded.”

A large portion of students eating in the hallways bring their lunch from home. Since they don’t have to go back to the cafeteria to buy anything, they can get to their classes earlier, and have quick access to bathrooms and water fountains.

On the other hand, students eating in the hallway who buy their lunch have a long walk to bring it back to where they eat. Some students who do buy cafeteria lunches are annoyed at the inconvenience.

Additionally, some students may find the hallway floors uncomfortable.

Some students end up sitting in the hallway, even though they’d rather be in the cafeteria. 

Freshman Katelin Sturdevant said: “I do think [the cafeteria is better] as somebody who sits in the hallway.”

Ultimately, ,any kids just follow their friends and sit where they did. Even if they wanted to sit elsewhere, they’d accommodate to be with their preferred peers.