Osseo School District Wins 2011 Whole Grains Challenge

Baking bread with more nutrients is not only bringing healthier lunch menu options in the , but has also earned the district a national award.

Nonprofit organization Oldways and its Whole Grains Council recently announced District 279 was a winner in the 2011 Whole Grains Challenge in the kindergarten through 12th-grade public school category. Winners were chosen based on “creative whole grain menu offerings and innovative promotional efforts” throughout the month of October.

Staff members in the Osseo School District have been baking breads from scratch for students many years, said Director of Food and Nutrition Services Tom Pellegrino. Over the last 10 years, the district has been adding more whole grain to its lunch menu recipes to create healthier options.

“Last year, one of our amazing school kitchen managers made a connection with someone from Cargill and a partnership was formed,” he said. “The Cargill staff introduced us to a white whole grain flour that has the nutritional properties of whole grain wheat but is similar in taste and texture to refined white flour.”

As a result, Cargill helped do several recipe formulations that Pellegrino said could have taken the district years.

The Whole Grain Council said the partnership was a “great model for industry/school joint efforts, spoke volumes about the staff’s dedication to deliver whole grain foods that the kids would eat and enjoy.”

“For me, this is a story about some amazingly hard working and caring nutrition professionals throughout District 279 that are committed to keeping our promise to offer nutritious foods to our students alive,” he said. “We have a passion for this work and it is gratifying to receive recognition for the extra effort.”

As a winner, the Osseo School District will receive a framed medal and a variety of whole grain foods. The annual Whole Grains Challenge is setup to encourage dining and foodservice outlets to come up with “original, creative, and compelling ways to promote whole grain awareness and enjoyment.”