Students at Forest Lake State High School are lining up at a newly refurbished canteen, which officially opened in the first week of term earlier this year.
Year 12 students joined school principal Sally Hawkes, Inala MP Margie Nightingale and members of the school’s Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) for the opening of the upgraded facility.
According to the school, the refurbishment had been a long-standing priority, particularly for canteen staff who needed a more functional workspace to keep up with the lunchtime rush.
They’re leaving the sausage sizzle to Bunnings, but students can still grab a burger, hot dog or toastie between classes.
And anyone used to paying $15 for nachos at a food court might get a touch of price envy when they see loaded nachos on the board for $6.50.
The rotating daily specials read like a canteen greatest hits list.
Mondays bring the sausage sizzle, Tuesday is taco day, while Wednesday serves up the intriguingly named “sushi burger”.
By Thursday, it’s loaded nachos, and Fridays rotate through favourites including burrito bowls, meatball subs, fried rice and roast vegetable wraps.
Elsewhere on the menu, students can get chicken wraps, or sandwiches with tuna, chicken or egg and lettuce.
Fruit, yoghurt, salad cups and salad trays also appear on the menu alongside hot foods like noodles, pizza and potato wedges.
The school said the menu has been revised to meet the Queensland Government’s Smart Choices Healthy Food and Drink Strategy, which encourages balanced food and drink choices for students.
Ms Nightingale said on social media the modernised space would improve access to healthy food options and create better working conditions for staff.
Ms Hawkes said students had already embraced the new canteen.
“It is going great guns here. The kids are spending up, and they are providing suggestions for our new menu all this week,” she said.
The P&C has also advertised a casual retail assistant role to help run the canteen and uniform shop as the upgraded facility settles into the school year.
