Fulton Students Rate School System Food Recipes

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Roughly 130 Fulton County Schools students from Spalding Drive Elementary, Bear Creek Middle and Elkins Pointe Middle schools made the trip to the administrative building on May 22 in Sandy Springs to taste test potential new recipes.

Sponsored by the FCS Nutrition Program, the event was supported by local vendors and district transportation, and aimed to involve students in the meal-planning for the 2018-2019 school year.

After each school group arrived, they split into small groups and were issued a Food Challenge Passport Booklet listing the new dishes. Adult challenge guides escorted students through the course to sample the new dishes, and then rated the food on iPads at each table before moving to the next station. Upon completion, they filled out a survey on the experience.

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The new menu items included a variety of meals including pancakes and sausage griddle, walking tacos, shrimp and grits, veggie burger, a high protein power pack and more. All recipes for the Student Choice Food Challenge are planned and tested by the district’s registered dietitians and District Chef to meet healthy meal requirements, as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

"The survey feedback data is currently being tabulated in hopes of finding student-approved nutritious dishes," said Alyssia Wright, executive director of the FCS Nutrition Program. "The great thing about the Student Choice Food Challenge is that it allows our Fulton students to have a say in what is being served on our school menus. This event is a perfect example of how Fulton County Schools focuses on putting students first."

District Chef William “Chef Reggie like Veggie” Sloan was on hand to chat with students about food, nudging them for their honest input and opinions.

Since the first food challenge, FCS has added seven new recipes to the menu, empowering them to make nutritious choices while increasing their awareness of dietary guidelines that impact school meals.

The Fulton County School Nutrition Program has principal responsibilities for operating in 95 school kitchens to provide the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, After School Snacks, Summer Feeding, and the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program across the district.

Images via Fulton County School System