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Survey Prompts Major Updates to Nutrition Program

Wazyata Public Schools ‘ (MN) nutrition professionals spent the summer of 2018 overhauling the nutrition program in the district’s Culinary Express. They created new school menus, with delicious scratch-made recipes, including homemade chicken noodle and chicken wild rice soup, vegetable lo mein, spicy black beaned burgers, baked ziti and pork carnitas burrito bowls.

While revamping the Culinary Express website, school nutrition staff worked with a local food hub and marketing company to help provide more opportunities for nutrition education, including new graphics, cafeteria posters, food mascots, etc. The innovative changes to their school nutrition program were prompted by survey feedback from parents and staff.

Plenty to be Thankful for in Livingston Parish School Cafeterias

Preparing a healthy Thanksgiving feast for 20,000 students and parents is quite a challenge, but Livingston Parish Public Schools (LPPS) in Louisiana rises to the occasion. The district staggers their holiday lunches, giving parents an opportunity to join their children for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays. Read more…

Vertical Hydroponic Farming Takes Elementary School To New Heights

Students at Hopewell Elementary School (HES) in New Jersey have cultivated an impressive Farm to School program that incorporates important school lessons while also providing produce for school cafeteria menus. Read more…

New Recipes and Local Foods on the Menu for Lunch Week

October is a special month for school food, with National Farm to School Month, celebrations for National School Lunch Week and National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day. Some districts celebrate these events on different days due to fall vacations and holidays, but the message is all the same – healthy and local ingredients are on the menu in schools across the US! Read more…

Cafeterias share Lots2Love during National School Lunch Week

Schools across the country celebrated National School Lunch Week (NSLW) with special meals, taste-tests, guest servers, lots of fun decor and special lunchtime events. Read more…

Shaking It Up for National School Lunch Week in Georgia

Dade County Schools in Georgia didn’t let fall break and parent conferences get in the way of celebrating National School Lunch Week (NSLW). School nutrition and food service staff planned NSLW celebrations a week early this year, holding the annual event from October 8-12 to help educate students and parents on the importance and value of school lunch!

Staff members throughout the district wore fun apparel with this year’s NSLW theme, “School Lunch – Lots 2 Love”. Chef hats, t-shirts, aprons – everything they wore celebrated healthy school lunches and all there is to love about them! Cafeterias were decorated with Lots 2 Love messaging. Read more…

October Brings Local Taste To Washington Schools

A perfect kick-off to Farm to School Month, Highline Public Schools (WA) celebrated Taste Washington Day on Wednesday, October 3, featuring locally sourced foods on the menu and cafeteria visits from farmers and producers across the state.

43045352_2038853192815333_810410343925809152_n — Guests for “Taste of Washington Day” included local farmers, local celebrities, nutrition professionals from Highline Public Schools and representatives from the Washington Department of Agriculture, Washington School Nutrition Association and FEEST Seattle.

Parents Take A Peek Inside The Cafeteria

A great way for parents to learn about their child’s school nutrition program firsthand, National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day started in 2011 by Kiwi Magazine together with School Nutrition Association. Typically during National School Lunch Week in October, schools invite parents to eat lunch with their children and see what has changed over the years. Read more…

Locally Sourced Foods A Major Presence On School Menus

With the growing popularity of farmer’s markets and community-sponsored agriculture, schools have also upped their game with locally sourced foods on their menus. Read more…

Schools Reduce Food Waste in Creative Ways

Schools are employing a variety of strategies to reduce the amount of food thrown away in the cafeteria, including implementing share tables, donating to local organizations or composting leftovers. Read more…