Avoiding Atrocious Food Additives
by: Mari Treadway '65

Paper or Plastic? by: Roger Noon '62

  We are not talking about the grocery store choices, but rather lunch at school. “Paper” usually had to do with bringing your lunch to school in a brown paper bag. By the time lunch rolled around the sandwich had “aged to limp status” about 3-4 hours in a locker. On the other hand, you could get milk or a coke to give it some pizzazz. Baloney sandwiches were a staple in my lunch bag along with some kind of fruit which would also get soft from locker “heat”.   

Then there was “plastic”, which were the plates on which lunch meals were served. Couldn’t break those things if you tried! Like any institutional situation, there were “mystery” foods from time to time called meat and vegetables which more likely than not I wasn’t interested in eating! 

So, it was usually either one or the other depending on-my personal wealth, that which I could borrow (mooch), or what might be left over in the fridge at home and my mom insisted I take to school. 

With apologies to our health editor, aside from those two options, you had the major food groups of 1. Meat (hamburgers), 2. Vegetables (French fries) and 3. liquids (Coke, Pepsi, Nehi, etc.) Most High School people subscribed to them when they could.  Even better was hanging out at places which served them to “needy and willing” customers like us who could not get enough of them. 

In Hillsdale where I lived there was a malt shop a good walk away on St. Louis Avenue. It made a malt where the straw stood straight up in the serving glass, (ala today’s Frostie) and root beer served with ice mugs with a juke box among other things!  But it was worth the walk.

I know everyone would be willing to volunteer with their special “place”. But it may be safe to say for many “Steak and Shake”, “Hamburger Chef” or a “mom and pop place” not too far where you lived could be added to the list! Then again, the dime stores on then Easton Avenue had their restaurants (with burgers and fries) that beckoned as well.  I recall one place right around the corner on from Spencemar School (Kenlien Ave) but cannot remember the owner’s name (Van Kamp’s?). She was a really nice lady! It had a similarity to watching the series “Happy Days” and Mel’s place where the gang of Fonzie, Potsie and Richie hung out.

Of all the institutions-High School, College, Seminary and Grad School, they were pretty much the same with Jello in all flavors and mixes (with fruit and/or cottage cheese in them), mashed potatoes and vegetables, mystery meats and desserts that were always smaller than my appetite for them. But spaghetti and meatballs, that was something else! Loved that stuff! The burgers and fries were not bad, but the lack of “atmosphere” made them a little less exciting to eat! I do recall my appetite being a lot larger than now probably because of gym, the frantic style of doing things and being a “growing boy”.

 I can’t remember having outright food “fights”, but I do recall some “skirmishes and challenges that went answered from time to time. I remember those milk cartons made a good place to put unwanted veggies. And it always seemed there was not enough time to eat and socialize at the same time. It always seemed that boys ate with boys and the same with the females. Only if you were madly in “love” with or really wanted to meet someone would you dare to eat with your opposites. 

The lunchroom also served as a dance facility (Sock Hops), planning meetings, a practice facility and quiet place for study other than the formalities of “study hall”.  Now the memories of it all remind me just how small it was!