Food program evolves over 9 years

Nine years has meant a world of difference to Sweetwater County School District No. 2’s Nutrition Services department.

Linda Martin, director of nutrition services, discussed the program’s growth during the school board’s meeting Tuesday night, highlighting many of the changes and improvements that have occurred since she took over the department in 2009. Martin attributes many of the changes and improvements made within Nutrition Services to her assistant director, Leah Kennison.

In 2009, the department was only required to offer milk, a fruit or vegetable, one protein and one grain, with students required to take three of the four offerings for their lunch. Martin said she didn’t have to follow calorie, sodium or fat regulations at that time. In 2018 however, Martin said they offer students two flavors of milk, a fruit, vegetable, protein and a whole grain, with students required to take three of the five offerings, one of which has to be a vegetable or fruit. Menus are not regulated by grade group, with the department being required to dietary restrictions on calories, sodium and fat content. For example, a elementary school lunch must average between 350 and 500 calories, have no more than 540 mg of sodium and be less than 30 percent fat. Martin said the sodium guideline can become challenging as white milk has 130 mg of sodium per serving, which is accounted for before other foods are considered for the menu.

A second change is the number of programs offered now compared to 2009. Originally, the program offered a breakfast, lunch and a fresh fruit and vegetable program. Now, in addition to those offerings, the district has a grab-and-go breakfast, serves summer meals, feeds the summer school program, as well as offering an extended day food program and food for the Green River After School Program. While speaking about the grab-and-go breakfast program, Martin said teens tend to get hungry after morning classes begin and gives them an opportunity to grab a quick meal as they’re headed to their next class.

“If their minds are hungry, they’re not learning,” she said.

Trustee Steve Core questioned the grab-and-go program’s cost, saying it needed to be revenue neutral to keep the district’s food subsidy in check. Martin said the program brings more money into the district.

Marketing the department’s meals has also changed significantly. Martin said the department wasn’t concerned with marketing its meals to students nine years ago; a stance that has changed greatly in the last nine years. The department hosts taste tests to students, which allow them to vote on recipes that will be added to the menu, as well as holiday meals and online menus with nutritional information.

She said Nutrition Services plans to introduce a program called the “Two Bite Club” to the district’s kindergarteners, which aims to encourage children to try food they’re served at lunch that they might not be familiar with. Martin said the program involves a book that they read through, with students who diligently try new foods over the course of two months receiving a certificate. She said prizes will also be offered to the class with the most students trying different food.