What’s the Real School Lunch News? 31+ Million American Children Get More Vegetables

Posted on September 23, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

What’s really sad about the recent article on the state of U.S. school lunch from the Fed Up campaign is that is so-five-years-ago. Using out-of-date statistics, misleading photos, and images that were not even from high schools, this campaign fails to expose the real truth about school lunch today – that it is awesome and kids are eating it up!

Personally, I’m fed-up with reports on school lunch that ignore the real revolution in cafeterias. Where have these school lunch critics been? Clearly not dining in the districts that are featuring produce from schools gardens – or doing farm-to-school, boat-to-school (in AK, OR and NH), and Montana’s recent beef-to-school campaign. What’s really happening in school lunch is that the nearly 32 million students who eat it daily are getting an incredible variety of often local, increasingly organic produce, lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. According to the savvy school nutrition directors who observe their teen customers closely, they are eating it all up!!

Here’s a taste of what’s really happening with teens and school lunch in five Western districts of all sizes and demographics. It’s our first-in-a-series tour from coast-to-coast showcasing School Meals That Rock – today, with a special focus on teens and veggies.

In suburban Lake Stevens, Washington, Schools, just west of the Seattle, Calavero Mid-High piloted a “Build Your Own Salad Lunch” last spring and they now serve 65+ a day. They are expanding this concept to all middle/high schools in October: Students order a custom salad built from lean diced meats, shredded cheeses or seeds for protein, croutons or whole wheat bread-sticks for grain, and a colorful selection of fresh veggies (often local) and dried fruits.

Lake Stevens veggie toppings for a “Build Your Own Salad Lunch”

Lake Stevens customized salad lunch in a bowl

Down I-5, in Eugene, Oregon, Bethel School District, has developed a very impressive Harvest-of-the-Month program. Willamette Valley apples, pears, melons, carrots, bok choy, greens and much more show up on Bethel menus, in sandwiches and throughout variety bars (at least nine different vegetable choices daily at all grade levels).

Variety bar - at least nine veggie available daily

Willamette High School variety bar with regular farm to school options

Bethel Nutrition Services Summer Meal Program Sandwich

In the Solvang, California, Viking Café, Chef Bethany Markee leads a real school food revolution, where they offer a made-from-scratch hot lunch along with grab-n-go options (entrée salads, wrap sandwiches or vegetarian cold items). Thanks to a partnership with Santa Ynez Valley Fruit and Vegetable Rescue, the Viking Café is able to regularly serve fresh, organic produce and thanks to a new school herb garden, the seasonings will soon be very local as well.

Solvang Grab-n-Go Salads

Solvang produce bar often features “rescued” veggies

Across the mountains in the Provo, Utah, Schools, Jenilee McComb, Director and Colleen Dietz, Assistant, have made a commitment to freshly prepared, locally sourced meals in this mid-size district just south of Salt Lake City. They proudly lists the farms and farmers who grow food for their kitchen, so that Provo students know where their food comes from – and taking a few extra seconds to make something look more appealing to the eye has made all the difference.

Provo Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Homemade Marinara

Provo Homemade Roast Pork and Mashed Potatoes

Up in Kalispell, Montana, Public Schools, another medium-sized district close to the Canadian border, Jennifer Montague agrees that presentation and freshness are the keys to getting teens to eat more fruits and vegetables. She believes that young people are discerning customers and they will choose fruits and vegetables if they look appealing and taste good on a regular basis.

Kalispell Hummus Grab-n-Go Salad

Kalispell Rainbow Grab-n-Go Salads

I am all for getting teens – and even younger students – activated to improve school meals. That’s exactly what the Fuel Up to Play 60 and Alliance for a Healthy Generation programs have been doing for years – with great success. In fact, we have reached the tipping point in school nutrition – and it’s time to use photos like these to inspire lagging districts to make changes.

If you really want to do something, there is no need to use old data and misleading photos. Let’s spend our time showcasing what’s possible and support all school nutrition professionals in serving meals they way districts like Lake Stevens, Bethel, Solvang, Provo and Kalispell are already doing. Jennifer Montague said it best: “If you build it well, they will eat it.”

3 Secrets for Getting Kids to Make Smart Food Choices

Posted on September 19, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

[Thanks to Kern Halls of Ingenious Culinary Concepts for originally publishing this on his new blog.]

As school nutrition professionals, we are required to serve certain food items – and we want our customers to enjoy nutrient-rich, “good-for-them” meals and snacks. While there is never any guarantee that every child is going to like every food (do you?!), there are some fundamental, “secret” strategies for helping children make smarter food choices at school. Here are three of my favorites:

1. Presentation, presentation, presentation.

We all eat with our eyes – and our nose and ears – long before we ever put the food in our mouths. School-aged customers are looking for colorful, eye-appealing choices that smell wonderful – and maybe even “sizzle” in the skillet. A recent study with pre-teen children indicated that the young people preferred greater food diversity than adults. On average, they preferred seven different items on their plates and six different colors. This study is one of many from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab that indicate the importance of presentation to children, including on school lunch lines.

Want children to eat “what’s good for them”? Make sure that it looks, smells and sounds incredibly delicious!

From Kalispell, Montana, these rainbow salads would appeal to any student!!

2. Taste, taste, taste.

This should go without saying: Taste reigns supreme in the food world. While you can get kids to take a bite or two of almost anything, you will not get them to repeat the experience or truly enjoy the food unless it tastes good. How do you get food to go from OK to WOW in terms of taste buds? The “secret” is culinary skills – planning, storing, preparing, seasoning and cooking to maximize flavor and texture. Culinary boot camps, guest chefs and chefs on staff have become popular for good reasons. They all help school meals move beyond their reputation for processed blandness to more complex, sophisticated and spicy foods that appeal to today’s consumers.

Want children to eat “what’s good for them”? Make sure your food tastes so wonderful that they want to come back for more tomorrow.

Denver (CO) Public Schools served Albondigas with zucchini, bell peppers, onions, potatoes, cilantro and carrots, as well as homemade turkey meatballs. Students at Schmitt Elementary raved about them on the playground and at other schools students asked for seconds!

3. Service with a smile.

Anyone who has every worked in any kind of foodservice with any age customers knows the value of a smile. In school cafeterias, the smiles of the school nutrition professionals directly translate into improved academic performance. That’s because S.M.I.L.E. stands for School Meals Improve Learning Environments. When children are well nourished, they are ready to succeed – better able to focus, concentrate and learn in the classroom. Good customer service is one of most effective ways to insure that children will enjoy whatever is served at school breakfast, lunch and snack – whether they know that it is good for them or not!!

Want children to eat “what’s good for them”? Remember to S.M.I.L.E. and invite your customer to enjoy the appealing, delicious food you have prepared.

In Lake Stevens, Washington, their “Build a Rainbow” Salad Bar is served with many smiles.

Taking Comfort from the Joy of Cooking and Eating Together

Posted on September 11, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

“Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. It is of great importance to the morale.” [Elsa Schiaparelli, Shocking Life, 1954]

Shortly after September 11, 2001, I wrote my regular newspaper column. Then – like today – it seemed trivial to write about fat and sugar, or even nutrition standards in school meals. These issues are unrelated to the rhythms of life after an attack like 9/11, a tragedy like the Sandy Hook shootings – or while trying to make sense of a Syrian massacre. Today, as I listen and read our country’s remembrances, I – like you – try to put all of this into the context of my family’s life. So, as several times before, I have gone back to rewrite that 9/11 column and share it with you.

Back on September 9/11/01, I realized that food, and nutrition, have important roles in our lives as we move through personal grief and national tragedy. Then, through what seemed like a river of tears, I invited friends to dinner and began to make bread – to make bread by hand, not by machine. In kneading dough, baking bread, preparing dinner and setting the table, I began to feel calmer and more settled – the solace of simple things in troubled times.

Whenever I listen carefully to wise thoughts from religious leaders, poets, counselors, musicians and others, themes for healing, recovery and how to talk to your children begin to emerge. Some words are mentioned repeatedly – family, ritual and community among them. Naturally, from my professional perspective, these themes keep bringing me back to food.

In terms of food, the important things are the simple things: meals prepared for loved ones; nurturing food given generously; homegrown produce eaten in the garden; and bread, the staff of life, broken together. In the words of the wisest dietitian I know, Ellyn Satter: “Eating is about regard for ourselves, our connection with our bodies, and our commitment to life itself.” [Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family, Kelcy Press, 1999]

My thoughts on 9/11 were not about what to eat, but about how to eat. Since the beginning of human culture, eating together has been important to families and communities – and the rituals that bind us together. Consider those words – and special meals come to mind. Meals like Iftar, Thanksgiving, Passover and Christmas, shared meals like church potlucks and office parties, celebratory meals like birthdays and anniversaries.

Sadly, in our fast food culture, everyday meals have too often been seen as something to get through quickly – so that we can get on to something more important. In troubled times, there may be nothing more important than rediscovering the joy and security of good food eaten with others.

As we remember the losses of 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and un-civil wars around the world, cooking and eating together are among the simple things that can comfort us all. Nourishment, communication and stronger family bonds are as close as our kitchens and dining rooms.

Cook together. Preparing food is a loving way to share time and bring generations together. Measuring, stirring, and chopping can be as comforting as any other routine, everyday task. Kneading bread can be downright therapeutic.

Eat together. Make family meals a real priority as often as you can. If you live alone, reach out to family, friends, or co-workers – and break bread together. Eat together at home, eat together at restaurants, eat together at work, eat together at a picnic.

Turn off the television. Even in normal times, television makes it hard to eat well. The repetitive images of the school where children died – or any tragedy – can literally make us sick to our stomachs. A psychologist on NPR said that small children might actually believe that the event is happening over and over again. Even for adults, I fear that our inner child also feels like it is happening over and over and over again.

Return to rituals. Families have many rituals for meals – prayers, a moment of silence, joining of hands, candles or other festive touches, like flowers and special dishes. Making rituals part of everyday meals ties us to the past and to hope for the future. Take a break from the news and focus on the tastes, smells and textures of food.

Take time to share. Slow down and share – food, fellowship, memories, tears, laughter and the joy of time together. Even the smallest children can share in conversations around a table. Give everyone time to share what is important to them. By joining with others, you can begin to take comfort from the nourishing food and loving companionship.

“Food to a large extent is what holds a society together and eating is closely linked to deep spiritual experiences.” [Peter Farb, Consuming Passions: The Anthropology of Eating, 1983]

Why You Should Support School Breakfast … from HuffPo Parents

Posted on September 7, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

A school nutrition director recently wrote to me about how difficult it was to start a Breakfast in the Classroom program in her Pennsylvania school district. One parent had gone so far as to write a blog about the fact that her child did not need breakfast because “she ate at home.” As the director said in her message to me, “I’m beginning to lose sight of why I ever wanted to do this in the first place. I’m sure that the majority of the students and parents will appreciate my efforts, it’s just those few who tend to bring one down!”

Thanks to Betsy, I was inspired to write my second article for The Huffington Post Parents page on “Why You Should Support School Breakfast, Even If Your Kid Eats at Home.” Check it out and find out the three things that every parent can do to support breakfast at school, like signing up for Fuel Up to Play 60.

My mantra: Breakfast every day for every day. At home or at school, breakfast changes lives – and t’s the very least we can do for education.

Breakfast Changes Lives

BMI Report Cards: More Harm Than Good? … from HuffPo Parents

Posted on August 25, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

Last week the AAP recommended that all schools should measure BMI (body mass index) and send so called “fat letters” home to the parents of overweight and obese children. Since there is little evidence that this is effective in improving health – and because the process may exacerbate weight stigma and bullying in schools, I strenuously object to the strategy.

My reactions to the AAP recommendation are featured in my first Huffington Post Parent blog at BMI Report Cards: More Harm Than Good? Check it out – and read what schools can do instead, like signing up for Fuel Up to Play 60. Students of all weights, shapes and sizes can benefit from more delicious nutrition and fun activity.

Six Back-to-School Lunch Spots: Where I would take Julia Child for a bite (Part 1, Western states)

Posted on August 19, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

As a devoted fan of Julia Child since the days of the earliest days of The French Chef on black and white TV, I know that she was always a culinary and educational trendsetter. Back in 1995, she was a co-founder of Days of Taste®, a national discovery-based program of The American Institute of Wine & Food for 4^th and 5^th graders. “In this age of fast and frozen food, we want to teach school children about real food – where it is grown and how it is produced – so that they can develop an understanding and appreciation of how good food is supposed to taste.”

Last week was the 101^st anniversary of Julia Child’s birth – an event that I always honor personally and professionally. As I was updating the daily entries on School Meals That Rock, I realized how much Julia Child would love to see the very real revolution that has take place in school meals. Fresh, local, lovingly prepared and beautifully served breakfasts, lunches, snacks and even suppers are served across the USA, not just in a few foodie enclaves like Portland (OR) and Berkeley (CA), but in a wide range of school nutrition programs with a real commitment to good food for hungry students.

If I could do some culinary time travel and take Julia to lunch, as Bob Spitz was lucky enough to do in Dearie, here are six school cafeteria hot spots we would hit in the Western states. These schools vary widely in location, demographics and staff training, but all have one thing in common: They are among the growing trend of districts dedicated to serving made-from-scratch food, supporting local farmers and ranchers, and teaching children how good food tastes.

Lake Stevens, Washington, Mollie Langum, Nutrition Supervisor

Mollie and her staff are true farm-to-table champions, as showcased in their “I Made A Rainbow at the Salad Bar” event. Washington-grown produce is not just for special occasions though; it’s an every day item in Lake Stevens cafeterias (just east of the metro Seattle area). With the right kind of “peer pressure,” students help promote produce, with giant strawberry costumes and as 5^th grade fruit/veggie ambassadors.

Bethel, Oregon, Jennie Kolpak, RD, Nutrition Supervisor

Down I 5, in Eugene, Oregon, Jennie has developed a very impressive Harvest-of-the-Month program. Willamette Valley apples, pears, melons, carrots, bok choy and more show up on Bethel menus. This made-to-order Willamette High School panini with balsamic marinated veggies is just one delicious example. This year, they are going “hyper-local” with a new commercial size greenhouse on school grounds.

Solvang, California, Chef Bethany Markee, Viking Café

Trading fine dining for a cafeteria, Bethany leads a Central California school food revolution – as this Honey Roasted Organic Fennel for the salad bar clearly shows. Thanks to a partnership with Santa Ynez Valley Fruit and Vegetable Rescue, the Viking Café is able to regularly serve fresh, organic produce and thanks to a new school herb garden, the seasonings will soon be very local as well.

Chandler, Arizona, Catherine Giza, Director and Wes Delbridge, RD, Supervisor

I bet Julia would appreciate the high-tech side of this large multi-cultural district with its trend-setting iPhone app. And, I know that she would be equally impressed with their personal touch on the 250 hand-tossed pizzas with whole grain, made-from-scratch dough and homemade marinara sauce!

Provo, Utah, Jenilee McComb, Director and Colleen Dietz, Assistant

Breakfast or lunch, Provo’s cafeterias serve freshly prepared, locally sourced meals to the lucky students in this mid-size district just south of Salt Lake City. The school nutrition professionals in each school take justifiable pride in their award-winning program and the Facebook page proudly lists the farms and farmers who grow food for their kitchen. Provo students know where their food comes from!

Ennis, Montana, Tammy Wham, Director and Natasha Hegmann, FoodCorps

It might take us a bit longer to get to Ennis, a southwestern Montana community of less than 1,000 with about 400 students K-12. However, I can guarantee that it would be worth the drive! Tammy and her cooks make nearly everything from scratch and thanks to Montana FoodCorps they now have a greenhouse and school garden (with club and summer camp) for incredible, edible produce year-round!

School Meals Rock Nutrition Trends: Way Ahead on Whole Grains

Posted on May 20, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

According to the National Restaurant Association 2013 What’s Hot culinary forecast, Whole Grains in Kids Meals ranks number 10 in the Top Ten Trends for 2013 by American Culinary Federation. Child nutrition issues also hits the number 3 and 5 spots on the NRA list.

Child Nutrition hits 3 of 10 Top Trends for 2013

When it comes to whole grains, schools are really cooking on all burners and in ovens from coast-to-coast. From all the evidence I see, schools are way out in front of most restaurant meals when it comes to kid-appealing whole grains. While schools nutrition programs have been gradually adding more whole grains for years, the new USDA Meal Patterns mandated by the 2010 Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act for really accelerated the process, especially in the past two years. Just think of this – starting in July 2014, ALL grains served in school breakfast and lunch meals must be whole-grain rich.

An article in the May 2013 issue of the School Nutrition Association magazine highlights that creative and delicious ways that school nutrition professionals have responded to the challenge of adding whole grains to children’s meals. Several of my favorite school nutrition heroes are featured, including Doris Demers, the director in Oyster River, New Hampshire.

SNA Magazine , May 2013

My favorite example of Doris’s creativity with whole grains in this school lunch from January 2013. The Beef Stew (made with local grass-fed beef and local root vegetables) is served in a made-from-scratch mini-bread bowl. How cool is that!!

Oyster River, NH, Beef Stew, January 2013

I could go on-and-on-and-on with photos of whole grain pizza crusts, entrees served over brown rise and whole grain pasta, and salads made with quinoa, barley and other more “exotic” grains – so little space, so much whole grain goodness. However, it is also important to note that food manufacturers have also make a whole lot of changes to their school-focused products so that children are able to enjoy whole grains in foods they love, like waffles, sandwich buns, and pizza crust. Here are just two examples of the products that I saw while visiting Ohio schools last week.

Mini-waffles served for Breakfast in the Classroom, Reynoldsburg, OH

Beef Sliders served on whole grain buns from a local commercial bakery, Pinkerington, OH

I have to post one more example of whole grains from Douglas County School District in Colorado. Director Brent Craig and Chef Jason Morse are doing a great grain job, like this Roasted Veggie Pizza on a commercial whole grain crust with balsamic glaze. Like I said, schools a way out in front on this trend!!

Whole Grain Pizza from Douglas County, CO

Reflections on Revolutions, Reynoldsburg and Rosemary

Posted on May 17, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

Food Revolution Day 2013

Today is Food Revolution Day 2013 and I’ve been pondering Jamie Oliver’s quote and my visit to a Reynoldsburg, Ohio, elementary school this week. Actually, I completely support Mr. Oliver on every sentiment in theses sentences. I too want children to know about growing food, cooking recipes, enjoying meals and nourishing their bodies well. But, even more than all these things, I want every student to be fed and ready-to-learn.

In a middle America, lower-income (62 percent free/reduced eligible), ethnically diverse elementary school this week, I saw a school breakfast that exceeded USDA guidelines, but one that might make Jamie Oliver cringe: heat-n-serve mini-waffles in a pouch, fruit juice and milk, much of it flavored. While food purists might wish for steel cut oats, local fruit and unflavored milk, I watched 400+ children grab breakfast in less than 10 minutes, quietly settle into morning classroom routines, and throw almost nothing into trashcans.

Breakfast in the Classroom

While there wasn’t the time, the space or the resources for nutrition perfection, there was an absolute commitment to serving children nutrient-rich calories so that they could focus, concentrate and learn. And, universal breakfast in the classroom at Slate Ridge Elementary is clearly working since it has been named a “School of Promise” by the Ohio Department of Education for three years in a row. This award recognizes high performance in schools with at least 40 percent economically disadvantaged students.

And Jaime, I can assure you that the breakfast offerings themselves are radically different than what might have been served 10 or even 5 years ago – thanks to a combination of food activism, federal regulations, and industry reformulations. Those mini-waffles were 100% whole grain, low-fat, trans-fat-free, and moderate in sugar and sodium. The juice was 100% orange and the flavored milk was fat-free with 10 grams of sugar (less than 3 teaspoons) per 8 oz. Admittedly, not nutrient nirvana – but balanced nutrition for hundreds of young children who might have otherwise had to listen to their stomachs growl instead of focusing on their teachers’ voices.

Are other schools serving meals more in line with today’s culinary trends and foodie ideals? Absolutely, there are schools that make breakfast smoothies with non-fat yogurt and spinach and others that bake whole grain muffins from scratch. Provo, Utah, serves yogurt parfaits and fresh fruits for breakfast – and just this week posted pictures of rosemary chicken made with “hyper-local” herbs grown in their own high school greenhouse. While I frequently praise Provo and other cutting-edge districts for their culinary excellence, I also admire every step that districts like Reynoldsburg are taking to insure that every child has access to breakfast every day. Sometimes we have to serve our revolutions one-step at a time or in the wise words of Teddy Roosevelt “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Once you have the basics in place – like breakfast for every child, every day – then you can make improvements one delicious, fresh, local step at a time.

Rosemary (Grown-in-a-School Greenhouse) Chicken

School Meals Rock Nutrition Trends: Michigan Team Nutrition Feeds New Palates

Posted on May 15, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

What’s up next on School Meals That Rock? Trends, trends and more trends! I always look forward to the April issue of Food Technology magazine from the Institute of Food Technologists, where Contributing Editor, A. Elizabeth Sloan takes a perceptive and creative look at the top trends in food. In 2013, Sloan named the #1 trend “A Repositioned Palate,” highlighting how American’s are enjoying more complex flavor profiles and bolder flavors like as tangy, smoky, herbal, sour and bitter. She also notes how foodies are savoring their eating experiences defined by freshness and distinctive flavors.

April 2013, Food Technology Top Tend Trends

School nutrition programs all across the country reflect this trend with new flavors and new recipes, culinary boot camps and junior chef competitions. Michigan Team Nutrition and Chef Dave Mac have been at the forefront of this trend for years – offering chef trainings, quantity cookbooks and even a YouTube recipe channel. Chef Dave knows a lot about combining flavor and nutrition on a school nutrition budget with recipes like Sweet Thai Chili Chicken, Turkey Florentine Wrap and Whole Grain Fiesta Rice.

Layers of flavor and nutrition in a kid-approved menu

The good news is that you can access the Michigan Team Resources and use them in your own program:

The Whole Enchilada, Holland Chef Showcase

Student chef makes Michigan salads with dried cherries, of course!

School Meals Rock Nutrition Trends: Florida Chefs Put on “The Ritz”

Posted on May 14, 2013 by schoolmealsthatrock

What’s up next on School Meals That Rock? Trends, trends and more trends! I recently gave presentations in Michigan and Rhode Island on trends in food and nutrition using School Nutrition as examples. Over the next two weeks (or so), we’re going to explore the trends and share photos of school examples. Hope you’ll check in regularly to find out what is rockin’ in school meals!

According to the National Restaurant Association 2013 What’s Hot culinary forecast, Healthful Kids Meals rank number 3 in the Top Ten Trends for 2013 by both American Culinary Federation chefs and fast food operators. Child nutrition also hits the number 5 and 10 spots on the NRA list.

Child Nutrition hits 3 of 10 Top Trends for 2013

Thanks to a pilot Chefs Move to Schools program the Nassau County (FL) Schools are hitting multiple trends out of the park with help from Executive Chef Thomas Tolxdorf and his culinary team from The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island. More than 800 students from Nassau District Schools’ Fernandina Beach High School recently enjoyed a lunch that was healthful, included whole grains, and featured locally grown produce. Some lucky students even got in on the cooking action!

(Left to right) Thomas Tolxdorf, executive chef of The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, Amari Forrest, Fernandina Beach High School (FBHS) student, Allyn Graves, director of school food service of Nassau County School Board, Bishop Richards, FBHS student, Laura Perkins, FBHS student, Michael Gass, chef and culinary teacher at FBHS and Glenn Wright, chef at The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island.

The menu included whole grain pasta with fresh tomato sauce with the option of Italian turkey sausage; a side of fresh spring vegetables tossed with olive oil and herbs, fresh green salad, homemade rolls and whole-wheat low-fat oatmeal cookies. Now, that’s a lunch I would gladly eat myself!

“We are excited about Executive Chef Tolxdorf and his team’s interest in partnering with
us and preparing such a meal for our students. We look forward to expanding this initiative into more schools next year and working directly with our food managers,” said Allyn Graves, director of school food services for Nassau District Schools. Nassau District Schools’ Food Service serves more than 1,600,000 meals and snacks each year – all meeting USDA’s strict nutritional requirements each year. Many meals include fresh produce from local farms in a 150 mile radius of the district. The department has received the prestigious Florida Healthy School District Silver level honor from the Coordinated School Health Partnership and is a cosponsor for Florida Action for Healthy Kids.

Nassau County (FL) Schools feature local produce

Guest Chefs and students prepare fresh lunch in Fernandina Beach High School