Downtime or Addiction?: How Much Money Do DJDS Students Spend on Fast Food?

Off-campus privilege is three words only middle schoolers dream of but for most high schoolers off off-campus privilege is just another part of their daily routine. As you get older your horizons change, food-wise. Once you first get your off campus privileges most 8th and 9th graders find themselves taking the short walk to the subway or dominos which is about three minutes from campus. But with a license comes unlimited opportunities to eat out. Denver Jewish Day School kids are regulars at establishments like Panda Express, Raising Canes, Chick-fil-A, Noodles & Company, Chipotle, and more. 

 But over the past few years, has going off campus gone too far or is it just a healthy way to break up the day? Seven out of ten DJDS students said that one of the main reasons they go out for lunch is to leave the campus and get out into the world with their friends. 

“I go out and bring my own lunch, eating out is expensive and I'm saving my money for summer camp,” said Tamar Goldberg Butler, a freshman at DJDS. “I like to go out to eat with my friends, drive around with older kids, and leave the campus for a bit.’’ Everyone can agree leaving the campus is nice but for some leaving the campus is the entree to their main meal. Noah Kuntnick, a freshman, says he eats out more than half the days a week and usually spends around $65 on food. 

Solly Bielsky, Penina Pinkhas, and Eden Bichachi, all juniors, said they eat out four days a week and on average spend $50 weekly on food, with 35 weeks in the school year that’s $1,750 a year spent on going out to eat. While leaving school and going off campus for lunch can be fun, and good for your mental health, is spending hundreds of dollars worth it? 

Some may say this is money well spent, others say it is not just about the destination and the food but also the journey. The thrill of riding shotgun with your newly licensed friend behind the wheel of their parent's car is a thrill you're not going to get to experience many times in your life. Yes, 50 dollars a week on greasy food and carbonated beverages can add up quickly but the memories that come with your food and drink will last a lifetime.