If freshman Isaac Wahl leaves lunch hungry, he finds comfort in knowing he has access to a healthy snack at school.

“Whenever I’m walking by (the fruit bowls), I’m like ‘oh hey, an apple’, so I go and grab one,” Wahl said. “I like food and it was very convenient to get to.”

According to assistant athletic director Shawn Mathews, the athletic department began organizing fruit bowls to have snacks for students accessible throughout the day.

Mathews said the athletic department staff began collecting fruit after noticing the high amount of snacks going to waste in the cafeteria.

“We started last year in the middle of the year, having extra fruit just sitting on the counters that we might have from our lunches from downstairs,” Mathews said. “It was so popular that we started collecting the extra stuff that was left on tables, and then this year we decided to get some bowls to make it hopefully more recognizable and used.”

Mathews said the new bowls aim to provide a snack to students still hungry after lunch.

“(The bowls are) so we don’t waste so much food and then allow kids (to eat) during the day. If (students are) hungry for something, (they) have a choice that’s free and nutritious,” Mathews said.

Wahl said he believes having access to an extra source of food has positive academic effects.

“Sometimes due to time and just school in general you get hungry or don’t have time to eat. When the school has a location where if really needed, you can get food and do better in your classes,” Wahl said. “It’s hard to do work well on an empty stomach.”

Freshman Emily Keith said the fruit bowls are great for providing post-practice snack.

“After sports people might not have food. (The fruit bowls are) a good idea because if people are hungry they can go and get (food),” Keith said.

According to Mathews, the bowls are located in the athletic office and available to any student after third lunch.