Charlotte de Leon

A TASTY TREAT Senior Samantha Arce buys quesadillas and cookies at the international cart during upper lunch. The international cart offers rotating cultural specials from many different cultures as well as chips each day. The quick and friendly transaction provides an easy way for students to grab a delicious bite to eat.

Whether it’s a quick snack from the indoor cafeteria in LeVecke or a meal from one of the specialty carts outside Shamrock Plaza, Mater Dei offers a unique variety of food for students. Catered by Sodexo, the school offers hot and fresh lunch options to enjoy. Many students at Mater Dei regularly buy food and snacks from the cafeteria each lunch period. 

For students who do not wish to brave the busy cafeteria, the various food carts stationed outside in Shamrock Plaza are an equally good choice. Students have the option of buying different culturally inspired foods that change every day at the international cart, the weekly specials or chicken tenders at the specialty cart, and pasta and pizza at the Italian cart. Freshman Boston Crenshaw’s favorite dish at Mater Dei is the tacos from the specialty cart as she enjoys the added zest from lemon that comes with it.

”I love the tacos [and] I like that you get lemon with them,” Crenshaw said. “That just makes it even better.”

Crenshaw appreciates how buying lunch at Mater Dei means that it’s less bulky for her to carry around school.

“For me, bringing lunch just takes up too much space,” Crenshaw said. “So the fact that I can buy lunch at school just makes it easier for me and I don’t have to carry as much.”

Junior John Allen prefers having a hot and fresh meal from Mater Dei as opposed to an otherwise lukewarm or cold meal from home.

“The benefits of buying lunch over bringing lunch is ease and the food is usually hot and fresh,” Allen said.

Sophomore Luke Petersen also finds the convenience of buying lunch at Mater Dei helpful as it saves him time in the morning.

“I don’t have to wake up earlier,” Petersen said. “I can just wake up twenty minutes before [I have to leave].”

A Mater Dei food discussion would not be complete without mentioning the chocolate chip cookies. Served at every school event, chocolate chip cookies are the first taste of Mater Dei for many, and students are known to buy them for a quick snack. These sweet treats, coming in packs of three, are popular among students for not only their appealing taste but also ample supply for a low price.

“The cookies are sweet and chocolatey,” Petersen said. “It’s pretty cheap, $1.50 for three.”

After surveying several students, it is noted that one of the most popular choices of Mater Dei meals is a slice of pepperoni or cheese pizza paired with fries and water. This is otherwise known as a pizza combo. Junior Tina Lam works in the school cafeteria and recommends pizza combos because they are exceptionally warm and crunchy.

“The cafeteria excels at crafting pizza and fries, delivering warm and crunchy delights that captivate students,” Lam said. “Therefore, I would recommend pizza combos for anyone new to Mater Dei.”

Lam also recommends nut bars for a quick snack because they are sustainable and healthy.

”There are several students [who] will go home right after lunch ends, so they don’t need to eat that much at school,” Lam said. “However, they will need some fast but healthy nutrition until they can get real food; otherwise, they will feel hungry. So nut bars would be a great choice.”

Overall, Mater Dei succeeds in providing fresh food that appeals to students. Lam praises Mater Dei’s ability in making sure that students get the healthy food they deserve.

“I think Mater Dei has been successfully maintaining its [cuisine] and improving the quality of food by ensuring the cooking place is clean, keeping the food warm, and changing the specials every day so that students don’t [have to] eat the same thing,” Lam said. “Mater Dei is doing really well at making great and healthy food for students.”