News

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

What’s Cookin’ in our Cafeterias...

A message from Nancy Weiss, Interim Director of Nutrition Services

The cafeteria menu has changed dramatically from packaged and processed foods to fresh veggies, meat, and poultry. Vitamin waters are on their way out and are being replaced with 100 percent fruit juices. We are replacing the margarine with butter.

Harvest of the Month is beginning in February with an emphasis first on the presentation at the salad bars and then into the classrooms. Breakfast has changed in terms of more protein and less sugared, packaged “cinnamon rolls” etc.

The new child development menu has focused on no sugar snacks including a wholegrain raisin/walnut roll from local bakery Our Daily Bread.

We have renewed relationships with local vendors like The Berry Man and Tri-County Produce.

Programs such as “Build your own Smoothie” and “Build your own Sandwich” are in the process of being implemented at the high schools in an attempt to increase participation (especially Santa Barbara High School, where the cafeteria is currently closed for renovation). We have plans to implement an annual Santa Barbara School Districts’ Health and Wellness Fair with sponsors from the community such as Jordano's, Sansum Medical Clinic, TRADART, and the Diabetes Resource Center.

It is my goal to establish and continue partnerships that sustain and enrich our districts and the students we serve. There's a lot of work to be done and I'm very excited to be doing it.