This column is part of our student opinion series, “A thousand hands, a thousand voices.”

Fourth meal used to be a regular part of student life at The Hill School. It was a late-night dining option offered in the Dining Hall after study hall, giving students access to snacks and food before bed. This meal allowed students to support their busy academic schedules and athletic activities. Since the program was removed in recent years, students have been left with long gaps between meals. Students had to adjust to the three-meal system that we know today. We think The Hill School should bring back the fourth meal because it supports student health, strengthens community connections, and helps athletes recover properly.

Bringing back a fourth meal would better support students by offering a nutritious option after late study sessions and athletic practices, when many students still need food to stay energized and recover.

A fourth meal would directly support student health. Having shorter gaps between meals would help students maintain steady energy levels throughout the week.

According to Rhonda Sebastian, a researcher in nutrition and dietetics for the Department of Agriculture, eating a healthy fourth meal is directly linked to increased vitamins and minerals, and is especially beneficial for teenagers because their bodies require consistent energy and nutrients.

“Late evening consumers, the operant definition for participants who reported consuming food late at night, were found to have higher intakes of vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and potassium.” To compound on this claim, researchers at the Medical College of Soochow University found that “dietary intake of potassium and vitamins E and C are strongly associated with a reduced risk of CDV (Cardiovascular Disease).” Who are we, as a college preparatory school, if we are derelict to the long-term needs of our students? Could a fourth meal bring us closer together? Most definitely. Could a fourth meal instill a healthy habit that directly leads to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease? The evidence certainly suggests so.

Similarly, another positive impact caused by the fourth meal would be to our community. Shared meals allow students to have conversations and connect, especially in a boarding school environment where most students live together daily. Research from the University of Oxford shows that people who share meals with others more often are more likely to feel happier and more satisfied with their lives, strengthening their sense of belonging within a community.

Athletes would benefit significantly from the fourth meal, too. After long practices or games, students need proper nutrition to recover and be ready to go the next day.

Griffin Hopper, a four-year boarding student and rower, spoke to us about the possible effect of a fourth meal. “I feel a fourth meal would really help students to come together and connect, as well as providing an opportunity for more time-intensive sports like hockey and rowing to take needed time while not having to worry about the dining hall closing and leaving students starving or spending their own money on the Grille.”

Community, student health, and fueled minds and athletes are all things The Hill School expresses as tenets of a healthy school environment. The fourth meal will benefit the community in these three areas and is a necessity that needs to be brought back. If you are a Hill student, parent, or faculty member, consider how much stronger our community would be with a fourth meal back. Speak up and encourage the administration to restore fourth meals as a step toward better health and connection for Hill students.