Most students at Coppell High School often grab a slice of pizza or a bag of chips in the cafeteria line. But some do things differently. 

Senior Camille Alvarado unpacks a favorite homemade dish or a new recipe she perfected the night before.

Alvarado has built a reputation for her healthy eating habits that stand out in the fast-food pace of high school life. What started as an interest during the pandemic, has grown into a defining part of who she is.

“I realized food isn’t just about getting through the day,” Alvarado said. “It’s about how you take care of yourself for the long run.”

Her interest in cooking comes naturally. Her mother, Mary Alvarado, encourages family meals and healthy choices, a foundation that Camille took and made her own. She experiments with new recipes, brings her creations to school and takes charge of cooking dinners for her family.

Her younger brother, junior Micah Alvarado, said her skills impress the entire household.

“She makes things I’d never think to try, like veggie curries,” Micah said. “She cares about what goes into our food, and she makes it taste good.”

Camille’s friends have noticed her efforts as well. Senior Sandhya Karthick looks forward to asking what Alvarado packed for lunch.

“It’s always something different,” Karthick said. “One time she had lentils, and I tried them at her house. They were amazing. I honestly never thought I’d get excited about lentils.”

Mrs. Alvarado admires how her daughter turned a household routine into a personal passion.

But it is more than the food itself that inspires Karthick.

“Camille gets so excited when she talks about cooking that her eyes light up,” Karthick said. “It made me think about food differently, not just as a quick fix, but as something that can help you for life.”

That shift has spread. Karthick now cooks more for herself rather than relying on frozen meals, and she notices others in their friend group making similar changes.

“She’s made it her own thing,” Mrs. Alvarado said. “Cooking isn’t a chore for her. It’s how she expresses herself.”

Camille links her eating habits with sustainability. She shops mindfully, avoids waste and sees cooking as a way to live in line with her values.

“I like knowing where my food comes from and that I’m making choices that matter,” Camille said.

As graduation approaches, Alvarado plans to carry her healthy lifestyle into college, even if dorm kitchens are not as spacious as home.

“It’ll be harder, but I think I’ll find ways,” Camille said. “Cooking is something I want to keep doing.”

In a high school world shaped by convenience food and late-night snacks, Alvarado shows small choices, such as packing a homemade meal, can stand out. For her, food is not just fuel but a way of living with purpose.