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Congressman helps implement new lunch option for students
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Students at Austintown Fitch High School tried out the salad bar after it was re-introduced as an alternative lunch option on April 6.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Congressman Tim Ryan spoke to the students at Austintown Fitch High School on April 6 about the importance of eating and staying healthy.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Pictured, from left, are Vince Colaluca, Tim Ryan, Kathy Mock and Tascin Brooks attended the re-introduction of the salad bar at Austintown Fitch High School on April 6 as part of Austintown's "going green" initiative.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Congressman Tim Ryan made his way down the new salad bar at Austintown Fitch High School on April 6 after the reintroduction of it as another lunch option for students.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Austintown Fitch High School re-introduced its salad bar on April 6 as a “going green” option for students during lunch.
Fitch is providing an alternative option for students to choose for lunch and special guest, Congressman Tim Ryan, was there in support. Ryan sponsors the “Salad Bars in Schools Expansion Act,” which is a bill Ryan introduced in June 2015 to direct the United States Department of Agriculture to create a plan that would promote salad bars, along with a five year grant program and more training to schools.
Tascin Brooks, the Austintown Food Service Director, worked with Youngstown State University nutrition interns to bring the salad bar back and finding ways for it be more cost effective and offer all of the vegetables to meet the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act.
Students will be able to choose from three different types of lettuce, various toppings and meat or meat alternative options. The salad bar was designed to try and provide several different options for students to choose from to create their own salad.
Ryan spoke to the students after they got their lunches about the importance of eating healthy and staying active.
“You will be a direct result of what you put into your body. Your mind with either function at a very high level or when you eat a lot of crappy foods, it will function at a very low level,” Ryan told the students.
Austintown Food Services is looking forward to see the success of the salad bar grow. They are always eager to provide new lunch options for the students.
“You want to have high energy, a high level of focus, you want to have a high level of concentration, whether you’re talking about your school work or you’re talking about athletics,” said Ryan.