The School District of Palm Beach County (PBCSD) hosts an annual event for students to sample menu items. In August 2022, PBSCD School Food Service hosted middle school students to sample new items that would be featured for Hispanic Heritage month, as well as some plant- based options. Additionally, PBCSD School Food Service has a student menu advisory group that provides ongoing feedback on recipes and menus virtually. Members of the advisory group leave comments on the district’s mobile menu application, which are reviewed by the nutrition team to identify student favorites and make menu adjustments. This ensures that student engagement continues beyond initial menu placement and reduces barriers to participating in in-person events or opportunities. Dallas Independent School District (ISD) hosts an annual food festival to test school breakfast and lunch options with students of all grade levels. Dallas ISD Food & Child Nutrition Services invites students from elementary, middle, and high schools to the event and uses tablets to collect and aggregate feedback. And in Dallas ISD, the evaluation efforts extend beyond new foods and flavors. Recently, Food & Click here to read and watch the full news story from Palm Beach County School District as highlighted on WPTV.
Nutrition Services piloted ultra-high pasteurized, shelf-stable milk in eight elementary schools, and are relying on feedback from students and staff, in addition to participation and procurement data, to inform decisions about future use.
Dallas ISD student provides
rating for sample at the annual food festival.
Learn More: Additional stories of student engagement in Urban School Food Alliance districts: • CPS lunch menu: Students taste test variety of new cafeteria food to offer items kids like eating • L.A school lunches go healthy with mango smoothies, ramen, berries. Will students bite? • Broward County PS Annual Student Food Show • Orange County students taste-test food for healthy school lunches Engaging youth in the menu design process is a win- win for students and school nutrition programs. To learn more about how our members are innovating school food and creating healthy, student-approved menus, visit The USFA Resource Center to access best practices, case studies, and more. To Learn more about USFA and read additional blog posts visit USFA online here.
Dr. Wilson has dedicated her career to improving access to healthy school meals for all children, presently serving as Executive Director for the Urban School Food Alliance . She has spent 23 years as a school nutrition director in three Wisconsin public schools, five years as Executive Director for the Institute of Child Nutrition, two years as USDA Deputy Under Secretary of Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, appointed by President Obama. Dr. Wilson holds a BS in Dietetics, a MS in Food Science and Nutrition and a PhD in Foodservice and Lodging Management. She has received many peer nominated awards and is considered one of the top experts in school nutrition. Dr. Katie Wilson, SNS Executive Director, Urban School Food Alliance
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