Student Nutrition Examined in Colts Neck

Sodexo Education district representatives Liz Docimo and Lisa Elsinger presented the board with an update on student nutrition in school cafeterias and the district’s goal to successfully compete in the U.S. Healthy Challenge.

Elsinger said that currently, Colts Neck schools are serving healthy foods such as pre-made salads, vegetables, fruits, breads and proteins. The chicken nuggets in the district are white meat with whole grain breading, and the hot dogs are made with turkey.

“If we serve pizza every day, we are telling them it is okay to eat it every day,” said Docimo.

The district is working toward a Sodexo bronze award for each school, which would mean a $500 grant per school to be put toward purchasing healthy food.

“Food is something very near and dear to my heart,” said Board President Nancy LoCascio. “We teach so many great things to our kids, but we don’t always teach them how to take care of themselves.”

One part of the nutrition program is to teach students to make healthy choices on their own. However, along with fruits and vegetables, snacks like Doritos and ice-cream are still available. Elementary aged students can choose one snack per day along with a balanced meal, while middle school students can make choices like simply having a cookie for lunch.

Board members raised questions as to why unhealthy snack choices are still available.

Elsinger and Docimo said parents can flag their children’s meal accounts, to say they cannot have snacks, only certain snacks, or only snacks on certain days.

However, the board will be looking at the profit from unhealthy snacks and weighing the option of cutting them all together.

Docimo said, “We try to accommodate as many people as we can.”