Student Food Critics Shape the Future of School Menus
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Kid tested. Nutrition Services approved. That’s the goal of the Nutrition Services team when building school menus, and they’ve taken it to a whole new level with their first-ever Tempe Elementary Schools Food Show.
Held at McKemy Academy’s cafeteria, the event turned 36 students into food critics for the day.
These young taste-testers sampled a buffet of potential menu items from five local food brokers, giving their honest feedback on what excited their taste buds and what fell flat. In total, 30 different foods were put to the test, with kids weighing in on what should stay and what should go.
While meals served in schools must meet federal nutrition requirements, such as being whole-grain rich, meeting sugar restrictions, and limiting salt, Assistant Director of Nutrition Services Haley Dean knows that doesn’t mean kids can’t enjoy their meals.
“We focus on offering healthy, culturally relevant foods to students that have minimal ingredients and are free from artificial additives,” she shared. “Nutrition Services also believes in serving student-led menus, where the food options are tasted and approved by students.”
During the inaugural event, students sampled a variety of breakfast and lunch items, from cheesy macaroni bites to buffalo chicken calzones, to cherry sour berries, which became an instant favorite for Arredondo Elementary third grader Ava Curtis.
“I had fun trying the new foods,” Curtis said, adding that the Nutrition Services team is “doing a great job with what they’re doing and trying new things.”
Curtis believes her classmates will be most excited about the chicken drumstick she tested, but according to survey results, the most popular item of the Food Show were pancake bites called Poffitz. “They will definitely be added on next year's menu,” Dean shared.
In addition to the informative feedback from students, events like this also align to the District’s strategic plan to strengthen specialized programs, which includes Nutrition Services.
“By receiving input from the students, the Nutrition Services program is nourished by the opportunity to enhance our menu offerings to the community,” Dean said. “We hope to make this taste test an annual event for students to ensure their taste preferences and valuable feedback drive future menus and that healthy foods continue to be served.”
About Tempe Elementary Nutrition Services
Tempe Elementary Nutrition Services is proud to support your child's education by offering nutritious and delicious meals to students each and every day. Breakfast and lunch menus are available on our website. Learn more about Nutrition Services.