School nutrition professionals in Andover, Massachusetts have turned up the heat on their effort to serve healthier meals for students.
With new menu offerings such as Caribbean beef stew, Greek salads and vegetable sushi rolls for lunch – this is definitely not your mother’s cafeteria! In Andover, students can snack on hummus and pita bread, choose from sides like bean or minestrone soup, roasted butternut squash and marinated black bean salad, and have their pick of fresh produce.
Andover nutrition professionals have replaced high fat, high calorie chips and treats with popcorn and fruit smoothies at the high school snack bars. And recognizing the importance of teaching children about moderation, Andover elementary schools still offer a special treat once a week – items like blueberry shortcake and apple crisp.
To encourage kids to try the healthier cafeteria foods, Andover has made a point of getting students involved in the tasting and menu selection process. Their hard work has paid off – school meal sales have more than doubled in the past four years in the wake of improvements.
The district isn’t resting on its laurels though – they are constantly seeking new ways to promote healthier diets for Andover students. At one elementary school, officials are testing a pilot program where students eat lunch after recess. Andover officials are hoping the program will prevent students from rushing through lunch, and tossing out nutrient-rich foods in order to make it to recess sooner.
I think it is fantastic that Andover is serving innovative lunch menus to their students. The Nutrition Department is keeping up with the trends of today that students and families are so use to. Read the menus and you will find that the choices are nutritious and deliscious!!!!