GCPS lunch menus have gotten a refresh over the last few months. In both informal chats in the school cafés and through formal focus groups and “tastings,” School Nutrition staff members continually gather feedback from their customers… our students. What’s working? What isn’t? What meals get a big “thumbs up,” and which ones are less popular? The resulting feedback from student comments and focus groups helps shape school menus and can prompt changes like the current lunch menu tweaks.
At every school level, School Nutrition has streamlined menus to allow for student favorites to make an appearance more often. Some favorites that will make the rotation more frequently include crispy chicken nuggets, burgers, sub sandwiches, and crunchy tacos. While the changes were student-driven, the meals served in our cafeterias continue to be healthy and tasty options that will please parents. GCPS school cafeterias offer fresh fruits and vegetables every day. All of grains are whole-grain rich and the sodium, fat, and calories in menu items are held to strict guidelines. With an eye to keep students coming back for more, School Nutrition continues to look for new items and recipes to introduce in our cafeterias.
Another recent change is the introduction of a new menu app, powered by NutriSlice. Available for both iPhone and Android as well as a dedicated menu website, the new digital menu format gives families a school-specific look at what’s for lunch (or breakfast). Links in the daily calendar menu bring up a color photo of the selected menu item, along with a description, calorie count, and other nutrition information. Student diners can even rate the meal… providing more valuable feedback for SNP.
