Zach Mills, Lucy Covington, Brayton Larson, and Alex Connell contributed to this story. 

A lot of FHN students have been questioning the new changes to the Commons. Changes include new snack table options, new loft rules, and the Sodexo “Simply ToGo” snack station, known by students as ‘the black box’. Some of these changes are aimed at encouraging students to make healthier choices.

“Last year Francis Howell High School did a test run of the Sodexo ‘Simply ToGo’ snack line. They got a small sampling at the end of last year,” Sodexo employee Lavonne Losciuto said. “It offers a healthier, faster alternative lunch.”

Known by the student body, as ‘the black box’, the “Simply ToGo’ line offers salads, pudding shooters, yogurt parfaits, fruit cups, drinks and other healthier options. These products were aimed at providing healthier choices for students to purchase. Although prices vary from normal lunch items, there has been positive feedback from students.

“The other food here isn’t the most healthy, so I think the changes will stay,” Zohaib Abro said.

Federal guidelines are being enforced on the snack table, which require less sugar, fat, sodium, and calories. There are more backed items,because the old items didn’t meet requirements. There is a positive student reaction to the new options, like Cliff bars, Gushers, among others. Gardetto’s did not meet federal guidelines, but newly introduced Funyuns did meet those guidelines. Proceeds from the snack table go to the All-knighter. Other FHN clubs, sports and organizations have the opportunity to fundraise via the snack table if parents can volunteer at the table during lunches. The snack table is located outside the senior courtyard, which is now the only lunch privilege  for upperclassmen. The Loft in the Commons is now open to all students and not just the upperclassmen.

“I’m not a fan, it used to be a privilege for upperclassmen,” senior Josh Dunning said. “There are so few senior privileges left any more.”