‘Build Your Own’ Options Offer More Scratch Made School Meal Choices

‘Build Your Own’ Options Offer More Scratch Made School Meal Choices

Following trends in popular restaurants and cafes, Hopewell Valley Regional School District  (NJ) has crafted an exciting and unique menu for students across the district’s six schools. Since scratch cooking was introduced into the food service department about five years ago, the menu selection has continued to grow each year, according to Food Service Director Denise Menza.

Grab N Go
Typical Grab n’ Go section featuring school lunch options in Hopewell Valley Regional School District (NJ).

The district adheres to the USDA guidelines while utilizing ingredients in creative ways, helping to entice students and staff with healthy and delicious meal offerings. Read more…

School Lunch Hero Day Celebrates Cafeteria Professionals

School Lunch Hero Day Celebrates Cafeteria Professionals

With each smile or kind word, cafeteria employees make a difference in children’s school days. Their hard work and dedication can go unrecognized, but not on May 3, School Lunch Hero Day! Help celebrate these deserving and beloved lunch ladies and gentlemen! The national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) received hundreds of nominations of stellar school nutrition professionals and awarded six Regional Employees of the Year. The award was created to recognize outstanding school nutrition employees who influence the quality of school meals through customer service. Meet the 2019 winners: Read more…

School Nutrition Managers Honored With Regional Awards

School Nutrition Managers Honored With Regional Awards

Overseeing everything from staff training and food presentation to equipment maintenance, managers of school kitchens and cafeterias are masters at multitasking. From the moment students walk into their lunchrooms, they are prepared to create a positive and healthy school meal experience. In recognition of their outstanding hard work and dedication, the national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) has awarded the 2019 Regional Managers of the Year, considered the highest honor a school nutrition manager can earn. The award recognizes a cafeteria manager who has demonstrated dedication and ingenuity to improve his or her school meal program. Read more…

School Nutrition Directors Recognized Regionally For Excellence

School Nutrition Directors Recognized Regionally For Excellence

The national non-profit, School Nutrition Association (SNA), has awarded the 2019 Regional Directors of the Year, celebrating individuals for their excellence in leadership and commitment to the school meal programs that thrive under their direction each day. Excelling at budgeting, professional training and leading cafeteria staff in great customer service, these Regional Director of the Year recipients ensure the overall success of their school meal programs and students’ school day. Read more…

School Lunch Hero Day Honors National Nutrition Award Winners

School Lunch Hero Day Honors National Nutrition Award Winners

Every day heroes fight hunger from the cafeteria every school day. School Lunch Heroes are unassuming culinary ninjas, planning their school lunch menus, creating funny and festive bulletin boards in the cafeteria and serving a hot meal with a warm smile. Effort, dedication and compassion are the secret ingredients to their success, and a lot goes into making the school meal experience fun and nutritious for their students.

Recognizing this year’s best of the best who stood out in the school foodservice profession, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) has announced national winners for Director, Manager and Employee of the Year. These awards showcase the amazing work of school nutrition professionals in time to celebrate School Lunch Hero Day! The non-profit organization has teamed up again with Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author and illustrator of the popular LUNCH LADY graphic novel series, to celebrate all of America’s school nutrition professionals through School Lunch Hero Day, which will take place on Friday, May 3. Read more…

Ohio District Sees Great Results for Breakfast in the Classroom

Ohio District Sees Great Results for Breakfast in the Classroom

When some teachers first hear “Breakfast in the Classroom” they can be skeptical about  the idea of encouraging food and eating in their rooms.  But with a well-planned rollout, Garfield Heights City Schools (Ohio) Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program quickly won over both students and staff with its benefits.0-4

“The staff recognizes what a good thing BIC is for our kids and are willing to work together to make sure that it is effective and works for everyone,” said GHCS Teacher Tarese Lapelli. “Because of better access to healthy breakfast, student attention is better, there is less tardiness, we don’t see the typical hunger mood swings and sleepiness, and the kids are more prepared for learning.”

While any BIC program will need tweaks or alterations to make it work best for the school, Lapelli said “it is all about how you approach it with your kids – go in with a positive mindset.” Read more…

Breakfast Service Options On the Rise at Whiteville City Schools

Breakfast Service Options On the Rise at Whiteville City Schools

After implementing a universal free Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) program for its elementary and middle schools, Whiteville City Schools (NC) breakfast participation increased from 30 to 80 percent. Building off that success, Director of Nutrition Services Jamesie Gentry wanted to implement “Grab and Go” and “Second Chance Breakfast” options at the high school for the 2018-19 school year.

Whiteville went through a few different iterations before finding success in the ‘Grab and Go’ to the classroom model, which increased participation in its middle school from 30 to 80 percent. Read more…

New Year, Nu-trition: Schools Support Healthy Eating Resolutions

New Year, Nu-trition: Schools Support Healthy Eating Resolutions

When looking to make healthier eating choices, it’s best to go right to the experts for tips! The same can be said for getting school-aged children to eat healthier in the New Year. The tried-and-true techniques school nutrition professionals have successfully used in the school cafeteria to get students to consume healthier food options can easily translate to good habits at home. Read more…