Streatz & Beatz is a new food truck that was implemented into all LISD high school campuses. The plan was brought up as of last year and implemented this fall with the goal of providing students a new exciting experience to receive their lunches.

“It started last year with our corporate chef [who] decided we try [to] get the food truck approved and purchased for the district,” Streatz & Beatz employee Lisa Majed said. “It’s a new up-and-coming trend and we’re now starting to see more school districts [that] have their own food truck, so it’s nice to be at the cutting edge of that.”

Although the food truck and school cafeteria share the same supplies, such as produce and meat, Streatz & Beatz offers a unique preparation of their meals. With a conveyor oven, the food truck offers students a variety of new meals the school cafeteria occasionally promotes.

“We’re on a five-week cycle so we [get] one or two new items every week for five weeks and then it’ll rotate,” Majed said. “Some of the items we’re serving on the food truck have been offered in the cafeteria as a promotional item, so one of the specials they have and the ones students have liked, we’re trying some of them out on the food truck.”

Streatz & Beatz helps the school cafeteria with time management; with the overflow of a large student body, it makes it difficult even with seven lines for all students to acquire food quickly.

“It’s hard to get [students] all in a timely fashion,” cafeteria worker Eileen Roper said. “So, I think it kind of eases the amount of people we serve.”

With students who may be concerned about having to pay separately with the new system of the food truck, there is nothing to worry about. Streatz & Beatz is connected with the students’ LISD meal plans.

“Whatever meal plan they have, we follow because it’s directly linked to the school,” Majed said. “So if they have a full price, the lunch costs $2.85 [and] if they have a reduced plan or the free plan, they get a further reduced price or the free price as well.”

Since the food truck has come around, employees have received positive comments from staff and students. Overall, the community seems to enjoy the food and even go far as to compare it to local fast food joints.

“The kids seem really happy when they come up here, some may be a little hesitant to try it or to walk up to the truck because I don’t know that they know how they’re going to pay for it and how much it costs and they’re a little bit shy,” Majed said. “Most of the people, we’ve had a few people you know take bites of the sandwich and let us know they like it. Somebody said it tastes like Sonic. We’ve [received] lots of good feedback.”

Because the food truck only serves the school one day out of the week, students feel disappointed yet excited for the day the truck does come to campus. They hope the food truck will change their availability and attend campus more often.

“I’d rather the food truck come around more; once a week isn’t enough,” senior Lupita Vasquez said. “I like that the food truck did some things the cafeteria people don’t do.”

Even with Streatz & Beatz playing a successful part in students’ lunchtime, the food truck strives to improve and make new changes. Students can find the food truck outside of the auditorium every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“I hope that it’s a lot more fun lunch experience for the students,” Majed said. “We’re looking forward to warmer weather and, you know, we have the music and the food. We’re just hoping it’s another option for variety and something a little bit more fun for the students.”