‘Friendly Tricks and Healthy Treats’ in School Cafeterias
Halloween means ghoulish decorations, funny tricks and yummy treats – and school cafeterias got in the action this year too. School nutrition staff worked hard to get creative with recipes, food art displays and coordinating costumes, while keeping it healthy.
Baked chicken fingers were renamed “witch fingers” and the usual parfaits turned into homemade pumpkin smoothies in Spotsylvania County Public Schools (VA).
Litchfield School District (NH) and Garland Independent School District (TX) decorate food containers and lunch lines with all the fun and spookiness of Halloween. School were serving up a variety of Halloween tricks and treats on their menus, like Frankenstein parfaits and spider bananas.
Food art is a great way to get students excited about a holiday and for foodservice staff to show off their skills in healthy ways! The staff in Escambia County School District (FL) get serious with their food art at Halloween – going beyond the typical pumpkin jack-o-lantern and carving melons, peppers and even pineapples.
Costumes aren’t only for the students, nutrition and foodservice staff get in on the fun too, dressing up in themes or matching looks with their coworkers. The staff at Caesar Rodney School District (DE) dressed up as scarecrows for Halloween as they served up delicious and warm chili cheese nachos. Dexter Community Schools (MI) coordinated with the food theme and dressed up as different school staples – like pizza, mustard and milk. Providing healthy school meals to their students is always important, but nutrition staff know it’s especially true ahead of a night traditionally filled with candy!
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