Antioch high school students support healthy menu, greenery

ANTIOCH – A high school cafeteria may be the last place that comes to mind when some think of green projects and healthy menu items.

But that’s exactly what students and staff at Antioch Community High School are experiencing in their commons garden and cafeteria.

Through the efforts of Antioch’s student council and Angela Swan, cafeteria manager at Antioch and Lakes Community High School, the commons gardens at the high school received a makeover last month that included the students planting new flowers, lavender, mint leaves, asparagus plants and vines throughout the garden.

“Student council is a group of people who want to make [Antioch] the best place possible,” said senior Emily Andre, president of student council. “So when Angela Swan suggested that we clean up the commons courtyard, student council readily jumped at the opportunity. We feel that eating outside improves the lunch-time environment for many upperclassmen students.”

John Whitehurst, principal of Antioch, said the cleaned up courtyards, flowers and vegetables help to make the high school more enjoyable for all.

“It creates a more aesthetically pleasing atmosphere,” Whitehurst said. “It was kind of overgrown and weedy [before]. They did a nice job cleaning,”

In addition to the courtyard’s makeover, the students are also making lunch-time more health focused by introducing new ways to eat.

“All of our solutions came from polling the students about their opinions on healthy eating and habits in the school,” said Sara Glashagel, adviser of Antioch’s student council.

Swan said her goal is to give students healthier options.

“I’m turning the boat,” Swan said. “Our goal is to get rid of anything that has trans fat; I’ll be watching that.”

She said that while for some students pizza is still their No. 1 meal choice, fresh fruit cups and salad sales have increased, as well.

“It’s all about being a healthy person,” she said. “We’re taking it one step at a time.”

The council also helped to organize a recycling program, got microwaves installed so that kids could reheat leftovers of their dinners and to heat up healthy items, such as soup, Glashagel said.

“Our student council has been working on making Antioch a healthier school for two years now,” Glashagel said.

Glashagel said the recent changes not only allow the students to have access to healthier foods, but teaches them the responsibility to consider their health when choosing what to eat.

“We can put all the fruit and veggies in front of them that we want, but they need to choose it,” she said. “We are simply giving them the means to do so with ease while eating at the school.”

Swan said that students and staff can expect the menu to change in accordance with the seasons and to continue to see new, healthy items.

Andre said it’s important for upcoming generations to embrace a healthier lifestyle and to be environmentally conscious.

“I am a big environmental advocate, and I feel that the more [Antioch] students can interact with the environment around them the better,” Andre said. “In an ever growing world, my generation has to make sustainability a priority.”