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THE CHANGING FACE of School Foodservice!
Districts across the country are incorporating local ingredients, employing farm to school programs, or even growing their own fruits and vegetables on campus. The Food Network , frequent restaurant dining, and easy access to the Internet have all contributed to students who are knowledgeable and more interested than ever in where their food comes from and an elevated food experience. This all sounds great but is the food actually good? Looking
For as long as I can remember, school foodservice has been portrayed in popular culture in a negative light. As someone who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the enduring images I have of school foodservice are Adam Sandler’s “Lunch Lady Land” song/video featuring Chris Farley in the title role and then also the “Lunch Lady Doris” character from The Simpsons , who is often seen smoking while doling Rich Products Corporation Nick Vathanadireg
To all of the K-12 foodservice teams on the frontlines, thank you for your dedication and perseverance in keeping kids nourished today, and every day. You are our heroes. Thank you for serving up care.
Perhaps the biggest difference between perception and reality in school foodservice is not the food itself but those that are serving it. “
out terrible meals to the students at Springfield Elementary. Not exactly high praise. I share these examples, not to relive my adolescence, but because my children are currently K-12 students and most parents of school-age children have likely been conditioned with those same depictions of school foodservice. If those characters represent the collective memory of a large percentage of parents, is it any wonder that school lunches are still getting a bad rap?
for a breakfast sandwich using maple waffle flatbread, egg, cheese, and bacon? Craving a traditional Banh Mi on a fresh baked roll? Want to try a Chicken Tikka Masala pita pocket? These are just a few examples that demonstrate you are just as likely to discover your next culinary adventure at a school cafeteria as you are at your favorite restaurants. But Perhaps the biggest difference between perception and reality in
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school foodservice is not the food itself but those who are serving it. As opposed to the gruff, indifferent portrayals mentioned above, school foodservice professionals are some of the most dedicated, passionate people you will find anywhere. Never has this been more evident than over the past year as communities across the country have dealt with the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These school lunch heroes have stepped up to ensure that even though class might not have been in session everywhere, meals certainly were. Now that feels like something worth writing a song about.
The reality is, while school lunch was probably never as bad as it has been portrayed, it has improved dramatically since most of us were lining up in those cafeterias. The nutritional requirements of the menu have become more of a focus than ever – the amount of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are higher than what you would see in many of our meals at home. Restrictions on sodium, sugar, and fat mean that a school lunch might be one of the healthier meals many children will eat throughout the week.
* Lunch Lady Land was featured on Saturday Night Live in season 19, 1994. The Simpsons was created by Matt Groening for Fox Broadcasting Network. The Food Network is a basic cable channel.
Nick Vathanadireg
K-12 Regional Sales Manager, Rich Products Corporation
Nick has spent the past 20 years working for manufacturers in the foodservice industry. He joined Rich Products in 2014 and the last 6 years have been spent leading direct and brokered sales teams dedicated to the K-12 segment.
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