To recognize the National School Lunch Program, serving 30 million children each day, Liberty County Schools celebrated National School Lunch Week from October 15-18, 2019.
The theme, “School Lunch: What’s on Your Playlist,” spotlights how today’s school cafeterias are serving up healthy menu items that kids want to eat, with increased choice and customization.
National School Lunch Week highlighted the nutritious foods available daily at Liberty County schools. Also, in an effort to celebrate this week and make it fun for students throughout the District the School Nutrition Program hosted several activities. KeyImpact Sales & Systems hosted a taste-testing event at Bradwell Institute introducing new food items to possibly be added to the school menus.
A competition between different grade levels calling on songwriters to develop a 30 second song/rap about the importance of school lunch or healthy food choices was conducted. The song/rap winners were then able to perform their song/rap to their peers during their scheduled lunch period. Students were also able to do coloring pages and puzzles that highlighted this year’s theme. These were displayed on serving lines and in the cafeteria area for all to see. Additionally, raffle tickets were given out at other schools and prizes were given to the winners.
“School lunches offer students fruits and vegetables, whole grains and milk, and meet federal nutrition standards limiting fat, calories and sodium,” said Stephanie Fox, School Nutrition Director. “National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about the benefits of our lunch program and the appealing variety of choices in the cafeteria. It also allows students to have fun while participating in activities that showcase their talents while learning about healthy nutrition.”
The federally funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has been fueling students for success for more than 70 years. Students can enjoy the convenience of a healthy school lunch for just $2.15 for elementary and $2.50 for middle and high school. Some students may also qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
The non-profit School Nutrition Association makes the “School Lunch Playlist” campaign possible. Parents and students can follow the fun using the hashtags #NSLW19, #SchoolLunchPlaylist and #SchoolLunch. For more information on National School Lunch Week or meal prices, visit the District nutrition program website at www.liberty.k12.ga.us or contact 921-876-2162.