Mayor Eric Adams’ $60 million budget cuts to the city’s school food program will have a significant impact on the school cafeteria menus. A school food official revealed that a variety of popular and higher-priced items will be removed, such as cookies, chicken dumplings, bean and cheese burritos, chicken tenders, grab-and-go salads, French fries, roasted chicken thighs, guacamole, and salsa. These changes have sparked concerns among parents and students, who feel that the cuts are substantial and will limit their meal options.
High schools with food courts, which were part of Adams’ initiative to improve the lunchroom experience, will only offer limited backup options like pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, and hummus and crackers.
Students at schools affected by these cuts expressed their disappointment, noting the removal of their favorite items like French fries, chicken thighs and legs, and bean and cheese burritos. Despite Adams’ efforts to enhance school food services, some students fear that these changes may push them to seek alternative options, such as purchasing meals from nearby bodegas or delis, which can be costly.