by Carmela Socci (6th)
Why 6th Grade Lunch Should Be Longer
Lunch is a part of everyday life. You need it to thrive. You need energy—especially if you are a middle school student, like a sixth grader. But what if you gave a sixth grader only 25–30 minutes each day to eat and talk to their friends, friends they don’t get to see during the school day?
Why Is Lunch So Important?
There are many reasons why lunch is so important. First of all, lunch is where we get our fuel and energy. It also gives us a much-needed break from schoolwork and helps reset our minds. Without it, we wouldn’t have the energy to focus and perform well in school.
Why Is Lunch So Short?
This is a question many students ask: why is lunch so short? At CMS, there are three grades, which means there are a total of six lunches. If we wanted to make lunch longer, the first lunch would need to start earlier, possibly around 9:00 a.m. According to Google, a sixth grader should have at least 20 minutes of lunch—but honestly, even that seems ridiculous!
Is It Possible to Have a Longer Lunch?
Is it possible to get a longer lunch? If lunches were extended, the first lunch would likely have to start earlier, around 9:00 a.m. That might not sound ideal, but it could give us a couple of extra minutes for lunch. So yes, it IS possible to have a longer lunch.
Why Have a Longer Lunch?
Why not? There are plenty of reasons why kids, especially sixth graders, need a longer lunch. For one, we are sitting down all day and don’t really have brain breaks. Lunch is a time to relax, unwind, and talk to friends we don’t get to see during the school day. Also, we need time to actually eat. For students buying lunch, the long lunch lines mean they barely have 20 minutes to eat, which isn’t fair.
What Are the Benefits of a Longer Lunch?
There are many benefits to having a longer lunch—some even backed by science. For example, an article from the Harvard School of Public Health reported that students with 20 minutes or less for lunch consumed 13% less of their food compared to students with at least 25 minutes. This means a longer lunch allows more time to eat and ensures students consume more of their meals.
When we’re hungry, it’s hard to focus because our bodies lack the fuel we need to stay energized. Food helps sustain us throughout the day. With a longer lunch, students return to class feeling refreshed, energized, and focused. On the other hand, a shorter lunch leads to hunger, which makes it harder to concentrate and perform well.
What Would You Do With a Longer Lunch?
With a longer lunch, you could eat more food and feel full instead of rushed. You’d also have more time to talk to your friends and enjoy conversations you can’t have during the day. A longer lunch also means taking a break from schoolwork, which helps your brain reset and relax.
So... Why Have a Longer Lunch?
Why not? There are so many reasons why kids need a longer lunch, especially in sixth grade. We sit all day without brain breaks, and lunch is our chance to unwind and talk to friends. Plus, students who buy lunch often don’t have enough time to eat because of the long lines. A longer lunch means eating more, staying energized, and having time to connect with others. It just makes sense!