“SAGE always stinks,” said a fellow student while waiting in line at the Charger Commons Dining Hall. Their statement was met with agreement by neighboring peers. Many students are quite opinionated about SAGE food; some love it, but many others don’t. People who dislike SAGE cite a lack of good options, but in reality, SAGE offers a variety of healthy options daily, such as salads, fruit, and even hot foods, and students should re-evaluate those options before just openly complaining. 

     Sophomore Derek Baxter, junior Luke Heckert, and senior Caleb Perez all agree that the salad and fruit bars are SAGE’s healthiest options. Of course, these foods are available daily. While agreeing that the salad bar is the healthiest choice, Upper School Social Studies Department Chair Kayla Brazee said, “There is always a healthy hot food option.” 

     Still, students rarely go for these healthier options. Baxter’s, Heckert’s, and Perez’s favorite SAGE foods include corn dogs, breadsticks, and chicken nuggets. Upper School Math Teacher Dr. Bullock said, “I seem to see a lot of people crowding when there are french fries, almost any–the skinny fries, the curly fries.” Brazee added, “Any time there are waffle-somethings, it seems to be a big deal.”

     Unlike the esteemed salad and fruit bar, finding good hot bar food is comparable to finding a needle in a haystack. Baxter said SAGE prepares chicken nuggets “like once a month,” and Perez said the breadsticks are only prepared “once or twice a week.” When asked about how often Sage serves corn dogs, Heckert said, “Very rarely… basically, any time that a cow jumps over the moon.” Dr. Bullock also noted the waffles “seem to be more rare.” This pattern of providing healthy foods daily and less healthy foods sporadically is an astounding positive.

     Just because SAGE opts for healthier—but still tasty—options doesn’t mean they never make bad food. The problem is, most students only go for the less healthy options. My advice for the critics: try SAGE’s healthy foods, perhaps your opinions will change. Furthermore, you’ll reap the benefits of eating healthy. Leave your hatred behind and appreciate your daily access to healthy food.