If a student or a parent, they’ve probably heard the news. Lunch is free.

Now students no longer have to go hungry or ask their parents for money or pack their lunch.

One drawback is the overall length of the lunch lines, “The lines are definitely longer.”  Sophomore Haeden Kozee said. The lines are longer due to the fact more students are getting lunch.

Rather than change from students’ pockets, the state pays for the free school lunch program through fewer tax deductions for higher income earners. The higher the person is paid the more taxes they pay towards funding the lunches.

 The new menu offers chicken sandwiches, pizzas, nachos, orange chicken, and tacos with the sides of fries, apples, and grapes for free. However,  students can purchase items like Ice and Celsius brand drinks, cookies, and chips.

Although the lunches may be free, the overall taste is still the same. Many of the students said that just the fact that the food is free makes it better.

“Honestly, I think it’s the same.” Kozee said. He believes that the food does not actually taste better but is still better due to it being free.

While students have many lunch options, students would like to see more menu options. According to a poll on Cheyenne Mountain students would like to see cheeseburgers and strawberry milk added. This would be better for the students adding more food options.

 Before the Colorado schools switched to free lunches, 60,000 parents could not afford to make their kids lunches. The free lunch program is also a win for parents. The change can make life less stressful for the parents who struggle financially because they do not have to pay for their kids lunch.

Due to the free lunch program, more students have chosen to eat at school already. Over 60% more food has been prepared compared to last year.

The change impacts 800,000+ students in Colorado. The 800,000+ participants students caused the participating schools with free lunch programs are in almost 130 million dollars worth of debt as a result.