The Harrisonburg High School cafeteria has redefined school lunch by introducing a yogurt parfait option to their menu.

Cafeteria Manager Tricia Newcomb, who came up with the idea to introduce a yogurt bar, said that she wanted to add variety and excitement to lunch.

“I’m always looking for ways to be ahead of the curve- Harrisonburg likes to be hip. I thought the kids might like [the yogurt option],” Newcomb said.

Junior Harrison Chicas tried the yogurt bar because he wanted something different.

“It was pretty good, but busy,” he said, “Everyone wanted to try it.”

The yogurt bar’s opening on Wednesday, Sept. 3, was considered a success by Newcomb, who said that she can’t quantify how popular the yogurt line was, but that it was “crazy.”

The yogurt option was so popular that the cafeteria ran out of toppings, having to substitute in things like mango slices. Normally, students have the option of adding strawberries, blueberries, granola, and chocolate chips to their parfait. According to Newcomb, the mango was also well-received by students.

“We may change it up some more- it won’t always be the same,” Newcomb said, referring to the cafeteria’s plan to have different yogurt toppings available each week. Chicas said that he’s looking forward to new choices.

Toppings aren’t the only thing that may change. The cafeteria may also substitute a different kind of yogurt, such as peach or strawberry, instead of the vanilla that it’s currently using, although Newcomb added that she thinks vanilla is a good base flavor to build on. Newcomb also emphasized the importance of eating healthily, noting that all of the cafeteria’s yogurt is low fat.

Yogurt days are currently scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, but that may change.

Although the cafeteria plans to only serve yogurt twice a week, students are already hooked. Junior Peter Kim says that he thinks yogurt should be available all the time.

“Everybody loves it [the yogurt], and it’s a lot more popular than the sandwich bar. You can always get sandwiches at another line anyway,” Kim said.

Newcomb said that normally pre-made parfaits are available in the grab-and-go line on yogurt days. Parfaits can be purchased either as a meal or a la carte.

“I do have other ideas, but they’re top secret,” Newcomb said, “I may play around with it as we go on.”

In other words, HHS’s cafeteria will keep innovating.