Students in WI Eat Their Way Across the Globe

While students in Wisconsin’s Prescott School District were not afforded the opportunity to sail in a gondola in Venice or visit England’s Buckingham Palace, their tastebuds got a chance to take a tour of the world via delectable cuisine spanning the globe.

The students recently took part in the Around the World in 80 Trays program, which encourages school nutrition programs statewide to incorporate international cuisines and culturally-significant meals into their menus.

Students enjoyed locally-sourced, mouth-watering international delights including Parsley Potatoes, a traditional dish from Norway, a flavor-bursting Cuban Panini, and a fresh and nutritious Pineapple Salsa representing Greek cuisine. Closer to home, students learned about the Menominee Nation in Wisconsin while deeming their Native American Fry Bread as a favorite.

The program is designed to enhance cultural awareness, strengthen student connections, bridge the gap between students’ local community with the world, and transform the cafeteria into a classroom. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction sponsors the program and guides each district by providing resources and recipe ideas. This is the second year that the Prescott School District has participated in the program.

“Around the World in 80 Trays has helped us grow our school nutrition program and also created a sense of excitement in the cafeteria,” said Nutrition Services Director for Prescott School District Nicole Lenzner. “These events make students feel special and sparks meaningful conversations among peers and staff. Many of our students eagerly share their own cultural connections to the dishes and recount previous experiences trying similar foods.”

Lenzner reports that some students were initially hesitant to try foods unfamiliar to them but their curious pallets got the best of them and participation spiked this year. The program is a labor of love for Lenzner and her staff but came with challenges. The Prescott School District has a limited budget to work with and Lenzner and her assistant school nutrition director took on extra duties at no extra cost to the district to make sure students could take their culinary trip around the globe.

“This program is so much more than meals for students,” said Lenzner. “It is an opportunity to explore, learn, and connect in a way that only food can provide. The entire experience expands students’ palates, increase cultural appreciation, and create lifelong positive associations with trying new foods. We cannot wait to continue it in the coming years.”

Around the World in 80 Trays gives student an education on what it is like to visit other parts of the world and the best part is they do not have to endure airport security or lengthy plane rides.