Mission Munchies

Let’s be honest. The Saber Shack is supposed to be the highlight of a 6-hour school day. It is the place students go for a quick snack, have time for a little gossip, and maybe something to survive the last period of the day. But right now, some students say it is missing one important thing: good snacks. Christian Parker, a student in the Advanced Manufacturing program, thinks it is time for a change. When asked if he’d change up the Saber Shack, he answered quickly. “Change it,” he said. Why? “Because there aren’t that many good snacks.” That seems to be the main issue — not enough variety and not enough excitement to travel to the Saber Shack. The shelves have baked chips, a few candy options, and drinks that flavorlessly drain your money. It is not terrible, but it is not exactly thrilling either. 

Jaxon Gibson, a student in Cyber Defense, said he would most likely want to buy snacks if the options were better. “Yes, because then I’d actually eat the snacks,” he said. And that, honestly, makes sense. Students are more likely to spend money somewhere they are actually excited about, not somewhere they are not so sure about. If he were able to completely redesign the Saber Shack, his top three additions would be clear: “Hot Cheetos, not baked. Soda. Candy.” While that might sound like every dentist’s worst nightmare, it shows what students actually want: flavor. When asked whether teens choose taste or nutrition, Gibson said, “Taste, because not many teens care about nutrition. They care about what tastes good to them.” That may not be the healthiest mindset, but it is realistic. He also believes better snacks could help students focus more in class. “It will make the students focus more because they’ll actually eat the snacks,” he said. It is hard to concentrate when you are hungry — or when your snack feels like a compromise. 

Of course, there is another side. Schools have nutrition rules for a reason. They want students to eat healthier and avoid too much sugar or sodium. The Saber Shack cannot just turn into a mini convenience store overnight. But, there still has to be a balance. The Shack could add more popular options that follow the rules, but still taste good. Healthy does not have to mean boring. Students are not asking for a “candy explosion”; they just want snacks that feel worth it. Right now, the snack struggle is real, and South CTA could definitely use a little more crunch, savor, and eye-opening flavors.