Kids love pizza and burgers while adults want them to eat healthier, so Collier County Public Schools has embarked down the path of compromise. They are infusing healthier ingredients into kid favorites. For example, cinnamon buns are made with whole grain flour. CCPS also is trying to lure more students into selecting fruits and vegetables.
Cafeteria workers from all CCPS elementary, middle, and high schools descended on Aubrey Rogers High School for a training day. They learned how to make healthy food more attractive to students.
“We put multiple varieties of fruit arranged like a rainbow,” said Elizabeth Alfaro, director of nutrition services. “We are going to be working on the aesthetics of the serving line. We already have pretty good food quality. Now we will have some garnishes to make it more visually appealing.”
Alfaro said they recently added new items, such as Asian selections and some new types of salads.
“Kids eat with their eyes,” said Cindy Edwards, cafeteria manager at Corkscrew Elementary and Middle Schools. “So we have a variety of fruits and vegetables, and you want to go out there and explain to them what they are eating. You give them chicken wings with egg rolls, new fruits and vegetables, waffles, and donut holes, all made with whole grains. You have to go out and promote your program.”
Edwards does that by dressing up in food-related costumes and going on the school news. She encourages students to try new foods by celebrating Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, and other holidays representing different cultures and foods.
Millions served
Between the two schools, Edwards oversees the serving of 2,200 meals daily. Throughout Collier County, 5.3 million meals are served during the school year.
CCPS follows USDA guidelines. To research new possible menu items, the food is first tested at the district office and then with some children.
“If it gets 70% or higher acceptance rate, it goes to the schools,” Alfaro explained.
Alfaro said students’ favorites are pizza, chicken nuggets, and chicken sandwiches.
“Tangerine chicken and rice is huge at my school, and every Friday, we have pizza and fries,” Edwards said.
Some of the more popular items for breakfast are whole-grain cinnamon rolls, cheese-filled bread with marinara, and breakfast pizza. Besides preparing and serving food, cafeteria staff want to educate students about eating well.
“I do love incentives,” Edwards said. “I give away gift cards and snack items. I get the kids involved and aware of what is going on. Kids want to make decisions, so they need to be informed. I am a big champion of school lunch.”
Collier County Public Schools employs about 300 cafeteria workers in its 58 schools, including 29 elementary, 10 middle, and eight high schools.
“I always had a love of food,” Edwards said. Working in the cafeteria “is the best thing I have ever done, and I feel that I have changed some lives along the way.”
All students can have breakfast for free. Parents who fill out a form showing financial need can get free lunch for their child.
“You can’t learn if you are hungry,” Alfaro said. “We really want to make an impact this year. We want them to come to breakfast and come to lunch. If we feed them, they do better every day.”