The Grrrowl Cures Hunger Pangs At Cv’s Lunchtime

On Monday, when Central Valley High kids get hungry, they’ll hit The Grrrowl.

The redesigned cafeteria will have a new look, a new payment system - and new kinds of food.

Deli sandwiches will be the most popular of the additions, expects Gary Pannell, food service director. Other new offerings include super slice pizza. “By the time the kids get to high school, they say ‘Hey, we’d really like to have a different pizza,”’ Pannel said.

Another regular offering will be some type of ethnic cuisine, such as Mexican or Chinese.

Not healthy enough for you? The Grrrowl will serve several types of salads, including oriental chicken, Caesar and fresh fruit.

Too complicated? Breakfast cereal will be available, too. As with all school cafeteria choices, officials try to strike a balance between good nutrition and serving food kids will actually eat, Pannell said.

“We’re trying to keep away from the high sugar cereals - the frosted this, the frosted that,” he said. “We’ve found when you’re dealing with fat and sugar, that sugar ends up being better.

“I think Berry Berry Trix is one that just made it over our guidelines.”

And, in response to student requests, there’ll be coffee.

“It’s something brand spanking new,” Pannell said. The Grrrowl will use Java Coffee, which Pannell described as a “top-shelf type of coffee.”

He pointed out there are plenty of coffee spots close to Central Valley High, and that most soda pop contains more caffeine than coffee.

Behind all the changes is a new way of paying for lunch.

To move food lines faster, students will be encouraged to use Accuscan debit cards.

Parents or students can prepay a certain amount on their Accuscan card.

Student Gary Schlatter came up with the winning name for the new cafeteria.

Officials staged a contest among students for the name.

“Picture a Central Valley bear growling because he’s hungry,” Pannell said.

, DataTimes