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Fitch coffee bar perks up teens
By AMANDA TONOLI
AUSTINTOWN
Austintown Fitch High School students finally got to savor a cup of their favorite coffee at The Common Grounds, the school’s new coffee bar.
Tascin Brooks, food service director, said the idea for The Common Grounds stemmed from a busy line at Dunkin Donuts she waited in two years ago.
“The line was just so long, and sometimes the kids didn’t have enough time to get their coffee before school,” Brooks said. “I thought, ‘Why can’t we bring the coffee to them here?’”
Brooks said she attended a food show and reached out to others on how to get her school coffee.
Because of several healthful food mandates from the state, Brooks said sometimes she struggles to keep students happy with the menu, but she tries her best.
“We are always trying to reinvent ourselves and keep up with what they like and what’s new and exciting. For the high-school level the USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture] has said, ‘You can give them caffeine again.’ So, for two years I have been trying to figure out how to do 60 calories per 12 ounce,” which is a state standard.
Students aren’t getting as much caffeine as everyone thinks they are, however.
“Iced lattes have 4 ounces of milk, and hot coffees have 2 ounces of steamed milk,” Brooks said. “We make all of our beverages with 1 percent milk, no whipped cream and all of our flavors are sugar-free. Students are receiving a good source of calcium from the milk in our drinks, too.”
Students also have the opportunity to get a healthy breakfast with a mix-and-match breakfast for $1.25. Whole-grain muffins and doughnut gems, as well as fruit, yogurt and granola are part of the menu for students pairing breakfast foods with their coffee.
The school does not limit students on their coffee consumption, but parents can put limitations on students’ meal plans.
Brooks said a lesson she instills in students is everything is good in moderation.
Laurie Vestal, cafeteria manager, said not only are the cafeteria workers happy to see The Common Grounds launch soar, the students are as well.
“It makes me excited to come to school,” said Kevin Ferguson, 16.
Students have the opportunity to try things in a healthy way that they might not have tried.
“I got my one friend to try it, and he really liked it. Now he gets it, too,” Ferguson said.
Students aren’t the only ones encouraged to use The Common Grounds between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“We want to encourage the [school] staff, as well, because they are as important as our students,” Brooks said. “Nowhere else do buses go out and pick up 5,600 customers and bring them to my restaurant. We are all about good products and good customer service and bringing that to the kids.”
In addition to coffee, hot chocolate and tea are available at The Common Grounds.