Latest News Local News OKC-area school districts embrace healthier meal options
OKC-area school districts embrace healthier meal options
Cafeteria workers in Edmond are going through intense training on preparing raw meat and fresh vegetables, as the district rolls out its cooking-from-scratch plan.
The program was piloted at Cross Timbers Elementary last year, and this year will be in all 26 Edmond cafeterias.
"With processed foods you have no control over sodium or fat," said chef Dave Fouts, owner of Simply Smart Food, who was hired by the district to create the program.
"When you overcook your vegetables it destroys the nutrients," he told trainees on a recent weekday. "Oven-roasted vegetables should be spread out in a single layer not piled on top of each other. They will cook faster, look better and taste better."
He also gave tips on cooking fresh pasta and taught workers how to batch cook, so that the last students through the lunch line get food as fresh as the first ones through.
Shelly Fox, food service director for Edmond Schools, said the program was so popular at Cross Timbers last year, the number of students buying lunch increased 16 percent and adults purchasing meals increased 300 percent.
Kerri Whitley, dietitian for Sodexo, which manages the child nutrition program for Putnam City, Bethany and Piedmont Schools, said the districts have been planning all summer on how to make their menus healthier.
The districts will focus on homestyle meals this year, Whitley said.
"We've been testing recipes," she said. "We have a really healthy turkey tetrazzini that's low in fat that we'll be doing this year. We also have more vegetarian items, such as pasta marinara and a fruit and yogurt plate that's really popular."
The districts also offer two to three fresh fruits and vegetables each day, and students can take as much as they want, she said.
"Anything we can do to try to help with the child obesity epidemic," Whitley said.
Oklahoma City School District elementary students this year also will get a healthy boost.
The school district recently was awarded $1 million in grants from the U.S. Agriculture Department to provide fresh fruits and vegetables each day at 52 elementary schools where high percentages of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunches.
The school district is funding the fresh fruits and vegetables at its remaining eight elementary schools.
Darlene Estes, cafeteria manager for Edmond Santa Fe High School, said the school district used to make everything from scratch but got away from it as they began to have to compete against fast food.
"I'm glad to see it come back," she said.
She expects the concept to get a warm welcome from students and parents.
"High schoolers love fresh fruits and vegetables. They eat a lot of salad," she said. "Once word gets out about the fresh meats, the kids will be into that."
