The first day of school can come with some anxiety and many questions, but the cafeteria doesn’t have to be intimidating for new students. In May, fifth and eighth grade students in the Yankton School District in Yankton, SD, go through an orientation process, practicing walking through lunch lines and choosing their school meals. Read more…
School nutrition professionals are celebrating the start of the 2017-2018 academic year by educating students about new technology and menu options and creating a welcoming atmosphere for them as they walk through the cafeteria. Welcome back signs are hung and decorations line the walls!
Summer months are often dedicated to perfecting recipes and staff training to bring new and exciting things to student menus come August/September! Read more…
Students in Modesto City Schools (MCS) in California started classes last week, but school nutrition professionals had been preparing for the new school year all summer long. Something exciting was in store, helping to improve the more than 24,000 meals made daily – new equipment for their specialized bakery. Think about 24,000 meals in terms of a restaurant – what kind of facility is needed to produce that many meals every day? Read more…
With roughly 68,000 students, the Nutrition Services Department for Douglas County School District (CO) is quite busy, especially with their vast efforts to incorporate local ingredients on menus! Read more…
Atlanta (GA) was the host city of this year’s School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference. It was very exciting to hear about so many great things going on in cafeterias in the state and across the country.
During an educational session titled “Shake It Up School Nutrition,” GA Department of Education guest speakers Sarah Combs and Paige Holland spoke about the challenges that face school nutrition professionals when it comes to providing healthier foods that still appeal to children. Read more…
Ever try a whole grain eggroll? How about low-sodium curry chicken sushi roll? Or 13 kinds of rice? A healthier version of chicken and waffles? Read more…
After a successful pilot program last year, Alachua County Schools in Gainesville (FL) has added a food truck to their free summer meals program, bringing delicious options to neighborhoods in need over the summer months.
The three additional neighborhood stops will serve about 150 children who would otherwise go without these meals over the summer. All children under 18 years old are eligible for free summer lunch, but even adults have shown an interest and are buying from the enticing food truck as well, said Rowe. Read more…
One Wisconsin school district is taking Farm to School to the next level! With the help of school nutrition professionals, science and math teachers and the Future Farmers of America, students in the School District of Holmen have helped raise their own chickens, grow their own crops on donated land and harvest from hydroponic greenhouses. At the helm of each project, Nutrition Services Supervisor Michael Gasper has helped organize Holmen’s Farm to School program into the great success it is today. In addition to student-grown and raised foods, he also selects produce and meats from local Wisconsin farms for school menus. Read more…
While cafeteria employees are often the most visible school nutrition professionals, they don’t always get recognized for the tremendous work they do. They are the heart and soul of the cafeteria experience for students of every age – we all remember our favorite School Lunch Hero. It’s that time again, when we give those lunch ladies and gentlemen their much-deserved recognition! The national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) has paired down from thousands of nominations of deserving candidates and awarded six Regional Employees of the Year, an award that was created to recognize outstanding school nutrition employees who influence the quality of school meals through customer service. Read more…
Managers of food service are often the ones troubleshooting a problem, too busy to be recognized by students, but helping to create an enjoyable and choreographed cafeteria experience. In recognition of their outstanding hard work and dedication, the national, non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA) has awarded the 2017 Regional Managers of the Year, which is 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…
