MISSION VIEJO : Fast Success for School’s Food Court

There were few of the usual complaints about school food to be heard Friday as Capistrano Valley High School students ordered lunch from the first high school fast-food court in the country.

The lunch bell had barely stopped ringing when scores of the school’s 2,700 students had queued up to order items such as Taco Bell burritos, Pizza Hut mini-pizzas and Kentucky Fried Chicken sandwiches.

“It’s a dream come true,” Student Body President David Sedgwick said. “When I told people about it this summer, they couldn’t believe it. It gives us choice.”

Capistrano Unified School District officials say they hope that by offering the greater number of food choices at the Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC mini restaurants on the campus, students will want to eat lunch rather than skip the meal because they don’t like what’s being served in the cafeteria.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said senior Shelly Smith of Mission Viejo. “Since we don’t have an open campus, it’s a good idea.”

Still, the fast-food fare wasn’t for everyone. Senior Joe Pratt of San Juan Capistrano was among those who avoided the long lines at the food court by bringing his own sack lunch. “It’s not even that good for you,” he said about the fast food. “It’s OK for a snack, but you don’t want to eat it every day.”

Under the one-year pilot licensing agreement between the district and the Pepsico restaurant group, Taco Bell New Concepts will pick up the estimated $20,000 price tag of the food court. In return, the district will pay Pepsico about 10% of food sales. Although similar food courts can be found on college campuses, this is the first for a high school, officials said.

About 14 district food service employees have been trained by Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC employees to prepare the food just as it would be at regular franchises. The prices are also about the same as those at the regular restaurants.

The Pepsico-district partnership is a “reflection of the growth of the quick-service food industry,” said Janis Smith, director of public affairs for Taco Bell.

Although an exact tally was not immediately available, district officials said food sales Thursday, when the food court opened, set a record.

“We know the students want this because we watch what they eat when they’re off campus,” district food service director Bill Caldwell said.

Although it is popular with the students, the program has been criticized by some parents worried about the fat and calorie content of fast foods.

Officials said that in terms of nutrition, the fare offered at the food court stacks up and that in cases it is even better than similar items prepared by the campus catering service.

“When you look at the numbers, the myth about fast food not being good or healthy begins to disappear,” Caldwell said.

The school will also continue to serve up its usual cafeteria menu, including salads, frozen yogurt, submarine sandwiches, hamburgers and french fries.

Among the items on the fast food restaurant menus are combination meals that include carrot sticks, fruit and milk. The combo meals are also available to students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

In the future, Caldwell said, he hopes to set up similar food courts at the two other high schools in the district, both of which have open-campus lunch policies.