District Changes Menus to Help Students Create Better Nutritional Habits

District Changes Menus to Help Students Create Better Nutritional Habits...

Fresh fruit every day, healthier drinks, and smaller servings of desserts and snacks are just some of the menu changes GCISD elementary students may notice as they head to the cafeteria this year. The district’s Nutritional Services staff has revised the lunch and snack selections to make it easier for students to choose healthier foods. Additionally, the staff will be providing more information to students about the nutritional values of foods and the benefits of eating healthy.

According to Director of Nutritional Services Julie Telesca, the idea behind the change is to reduce the temptation to buy unhealthy foods, yet provide foods that the kids will eat.

"Our role is to help create an awareness by students of healthy eating and to encourage them to make more appropriate choices at snack and lunch times," says Telesca. With 10,000 students a day eating breakfast and lunch at GCISD, that's a major responsibility, she adds.

A recent survey of a sample group of GCISD parents confirmed that more than 50 percent of the district's elementary and secondary students eat in the cafeteria at least four times a week and many of those purchase items from the a la carte menu. Of those parents surveyed, almost 70 percent would like to see healthier items on the a la carte menu.

The Texas Education Agency is encouraging school districts across the state to influence students to eat healthier foods by sending each district a booklet of facts and suggestions. "Reverse the Trends: Create a Healthy School Nutrition Environment for Students," lists diet-related health risks and obesity as major problems among children today and suggests that schools have an opportunity to help reduce those trends. By making specific menu-related changes, GCISD hopes to help reduce some of those long-term problems that could affect students.

Telesca says the revised a la carte menu will offer a limited variety of chips and snack crackers, miniature versions of ice cream treats instead of large ones, single servings of many dessert items like snack cakes instead of doubles and fresh fruit. Drink choices will be healthier and no carbonated soft drinks will be available in the cafeterias.

Other menu changes in the elementary cafeterias will feature two different entrees offered every day, plus students will be able to select chef salads or baked potatoes. Secondary students will notice the availability of more vegetarian foods.

With 85 percent of GCISD's 13,550 students eating breakfast and/or lunch in one of the district's 17 cafeterias, Telesca says, “ we have quite an opportunity to create awareness, provide information and set the example for good nutritional habits that can last a lifetime. That's our goal."