Back to School in Gwinnett: Millions of Meals to be Served in 2015-16

Last school year, Gwinnett County Public Schools served 21 million lunches and 10.7 million breakfasts to students.

With the 2015-16 school year set to begin Monday, here’s some facts about nutrition and food services in the state’s largest school district (from GCPS):

2015-2016 Menu Highlights

• Fresh local produce including green beans, sweet potatoes, corn available year round
• New Asian rice bowls using all natural sauces made with local ingredients
• New mashed potato bowls featuring either chicken, beef or pork
• Sliced apples and wedged citrus fruits
• Grains that are whole-grain rich
• Bento Boxes for lunch

2014-2015 Program Highlights

• 68 schools offered breakfast in the classroom
• 50 grant-funded student salad bars
• 20 school gardens
• 1 Georgia Department of Agriculture “Georgia Grown Test Kitchen

2014-2015 Most Popular Locally Grown Items Served in the Program

• 1,400,000 fresh apples
• 537,000 servings of fresh green beans
• 150,000 servings of fresh strawberries
• 98,000 servings of fresh sweet potatoes

2015-16 School Meal Prices (No change from the previous year)

• Student lunch (elementary) $2.25
• Student lunch (middle and high) $2.50
• Student lunch (reduced) $0.40
• Adult lunch $3.00
• Student breakfast $1.50
• Student breakfast (reduced) $0.30
• Adult breakfast $1.75

This school year …

• 131 school cafeterias will offer breakfast & lunch daily

Last school year …

• GCPS served 21,000,000 student lunches and 10,700,000 student breakfasts