We’d say school cafeteria staffs nationwide have their work cut out for them in the months ahead, in view of the fact that even more foods are being added to the no-no list by the government in an effort to keep our kids healthy. On the surface, it makes sense.

There is a downside, however. Providing healthier options for students only works if they eat what’s offered them. Students who only nibble on the foods they like and leave the rest are much more apt to grab junk food like a candy bar and soda after school if they’re still hungry.

In recent years, some of the healthier food options offered in school cafeterias have found students turning up their noses. Arguments that “they’ll eat anything if they’re hungry enough” don’t always hold true. All parents who are challenged with having to provide nutritious meals at home which their children will eat know that it’s not always as simple as it sounds. Like adults, they like diversity and, yes, they do care how it is presented.

All cafeteria staffs aren’t the same. Some are better than others at planning menus. The first challenge is working on a very limited budget in order to keep meals affordable and still make the meals both healthy and appealing. We found while visiting a number of colleges that current students are quick to point out what the food is like: “It’s not very good,” “It’s terrible,” or “It’s really quite good.”

A good or bad reputation also applies to elementary and high schools and also to food served at sports events. Boothbay Region High School has always had a good reputation for its food at basketball games, and fans often remember which schools serve the best foods when they attend out of town games, that is, the ones who go the extra mile and give fans several options.

We’re lucky that our own area school cafeterias have earned a good reputation for serving both nutritious and tasty meals. We’re sure it isn’t easy. While dining in the cafeteria a few years ago on Grandparents Day, we found the meal to be excellent (and you surely couldn’t beat the price!) and came away feeling that we wouldn’t mind going there for lunch every day.

As school gets underway for the 2015-2016 year, we can be thankful that our cafeteria staff goes out of its way to make sure lunches (and, in some cases, breakfasts) are first-rate. They look good, taste good, and the students eat them — a win-win situation.