Writer and Photographer / Julie Yates
The stereotyped visions of crabby, ill-tempered apron-clad “Lunch Ladies” ladling up gloppy, gooey mashed potatoes alongside a piece of mystery meat are certainly not seen in the cafeterias of the Center Grove Community School Corporation. At a recent visit to the cafeteria at Center Grove High, it was evident that the workers enjoyed cooking up tasty, healthy meals in a well-lit, state-of-the-art kitchen. Remodeled only a few years ago, the kitchen and cafeteria area is spacious and cheerful. About the same time their work area was being refashioned, cafeteria staff were also becoming familiar with changes to school lunch regulations due to the implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The program allowed schools to make changes gradually over a multiyear period, and the Center Grove school cafeterias were well within the compliance standards. In fact, even before this law was signed, Food Services at Center Grove had already made menu changes, such as offering whole-wheat items in an effort to serve students meals that would be wholesome and give them energy to do their best during the school day.
In the past couple of years, the meals began to be adjusted in further ways to reflect the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Whole-grain items were increased; the serving sizes for fruits and vegetables became larger; all milk was either 1 percent or fat free; and brightly colored vegetables, including those that are dark green, orange or red, were accessible. In addition, the amount of calories, saturated fats, sodium and desserts began to be limited.
What makes a meal?
Now all Center Grove school cafeterias have colorful posters hanging on the walls that are titled “What Makes a Meal.” They instruct students that they must choose from three to five of the components shown in the picture, and at least one must be a fruit or vegetable. Other parts added to build an acceptable lunch are protein, grains and dairy. Center Grove school cafeterias must follow these proper meal pattern requirements in order to receive reimbursement from the National School Lunch Program.
It is expected that the changes initiated by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will promote a healthy lifestyle, help students stay focused and give them energy for after-school activities by avoiding a midday slump. Also anticipated is that new healthy eating habits developed at school will transfer over to home life. The hope is that when students try different fruits and vegetables at school and find that they enjoy them, they will encourage their parents to serve them at home.
Healthy snack choices
In tandem with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act are the new school nutrition standards for Competitive Foods and Beverages. This affects any foods sold in the a la carte or snack line and even those sold at school bake sales and in vending machines on-site. For example, although fresh baked brand-name cookies and various ice cream novelty bars are very popular, Center Grove Food Services will either have to find different companies to buy products from that meet the new standards, or existing suppliers will have to develop new recipes. In order to ease the scramble to meet compliance deadlines, the government has allowed school systems to apply for waivers. Center Grove’s director of Food and Nutrition Services, Shannon Nesius, has applied for one of these official waivers that will extend the target date to meet the new criteria by the 2015-2016 school year.
Students have a say
Rose Smith, support specialist of Food and Nutrition Services, and Cherrie Agan, Center Grove High School cafeteria manager, enjoy getting student input on new items or recipes that are being considered. During a study hall period, volunteers might be asked to sample a low-sodium chicken noodle soup or a baked good made with whole-wheat flour. Both ladies admitted that it is challenging to make a great tasting cookie with only whole-wheat flour. They have been successful, however, at adding spinach leaves to romaine salad mix.
Interested parents can find an extensive list of food items offered and their nutritional values in the Center Grove school cafeterias by going to centergrove.k12.in.us, select “Support Services” then “Food & Nutrition Services.” In reality, these offerings look delicious in the actual cafeteria setting, and the fact that they are promoting the health of Center Grove students makes them even more appealing.
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