A cafeteria is a place where you serve yourself food from a selection of dishes and carry your meal to a table on a tray. Most schools have cafeterias where students move through a line, choosing items like sandwiches, fruit, or hot meals, then pay at a register before finding a seat.

Unlike restaurants where servers bring food to your table, cafeterias let you see all the options and pick exactly what you want. You might find cafeterias in schools, hospitals, office buildings, and museums.

The cafeteria system became popular in America in the early 1900s because it could feed many people quickly and efficiently. Some cafeterias organize food by stations: a salad bar here, hot entrees there, desserts at the end. Others arrange everything in one long line. Either way, you're responsible for carrying your own tray and, afterward, cleaning up your spot and returning your tray or dishes.

Many students have mixed feelings about their school cafeteria. The food quality varies quite a bit from place to place. But cafeterias serve an important purpose: they give everyone a chance to eat a meal and take a break during a busy day.