ere at North Muskegon High School we are granted a freedom that many schools in our area lack, the freedom of an open lunch period (such as Spring Lake and Muskegon Catholic Central, just to name a few).

Going out to lunch is a daily part of life here at NM and alters the monotony of our daily schedules by offering us a wide variety of purveyors of fine food. Some students choose the fast food route due to the strong dollar to calorie ratio, while others prepare their own healthy meals inside the warmth of their homes.

My quest for food, like many others begins at 11:31 and involves myriad violent debates on where to go.

In my situation, the end result is usually the fine establishment that is known as Bernie-O’s due to the excellent value, phenomenal service and superior taste. However readers be warned, Bernie-O’s is often swarming with freshman who abuse their cell phone privileges and order slices ahead of time, thus instilling anger in the hearts of many upper classmen.

While Bernie-O’s is an excellent choice, there are many other great restaurants located within a small radius of our humble village. Whether you want to eat healthy or are on a mission to ‘get big or die tryin’, the options are endless.

For those craving a sandwich, subway can help cure your hunger, or if you are in the mood for some greasy delicious burgers, Mr. Quick’s has just what you need. If you are daring enough, you can even make a run south of the border (aka Taco Bell), but the chances of making it back to school on time are slim. Another option for a cheap and healthy meal is Ma’s Kitchen, a home-style food joint located in the former Jitter Dogs building.

"One of my favorite locations to ingest calories is at dollar bread Thursdays at Little Caesars. Many of my fellow calorie cohorts try to cut it too close by engaging in a fierce Taco Bell run, but I like to play it safe and support local eateries," junior Cody Liverance said.

These are all great options, but one route that is highly underrated is going home for lunch. I have recently found this to be more satisfying because not only does it save me lots of money, but I also have the chance to prepare elaborate meals such as Macaroni and Cheese. Amidst all the time I have spent at home, my cooking skills began to excel (thanks to the food network and my BFF Rachel Ray).

Unfortunately the short lunch period really puts a damper on my cooking ability. I would put a witty or emotionally moving ending on this monotonous editorial, but Iron Chef is calling my name, and chairman Kaga does not like to wait.