Vernon Free Student Meals Getting A Bit More Gourmet

VERNON, CT — Free meals distributed to Vernon students during the coronavirus-related school closures are about to go seriously gourmet.

Yes ... the chef is breaking out the chicken nuggets the meatballs and the mozzerella sticks, said Elizabeth Fisher, the director of food and nutrition services for all seven public schools in Vernon.

"Hey, you can't beat them," Fisher said Thursday while transferring a carload of supplies from Rockville High School to Vernon Center Middle School, where the meals are being distributed.

Fisher is calling them "school lunch classics" that can be heated at home.

Samples shown on Thursday included mozzarella sticks with marinara dipping sauce and green beans and beef meatballs with garlic bread, marinara dipping sauce and sweet yellow corn.

Vernon schools are stepping up free lunch offerings. (Elizabeth Fisher)

Oh ... and in addition to the mozzarella sticks, the meatballs and the chicken nuggets, the meals will also alternate over to cheese pizza. The meals will be packaged frozen in oven-safe aluminum containers, Fisher said.

So, starting Monday, breakfast and lunch will be distributed at VCMS on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only. A two-day supply of breakfast and lunch will be distributed each day, for a six-day supply of meals per child per week.

Elizabeth Fisher unloading meal supplies at VCMS. (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

The meals are free for all children 18 and younger under.

The fee meals have been available from 9 to 11 a.m. for about a month now, and have featured items like yogurt, bagels, sandwiches, fruit and vegetables. Fisher said with inventory in abundance, it was time to break out the hot meal options.

Fisher has also become creative at tme with bananas on which insporational messages were written.