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CHC celebrates school nutrition super heroes
By ABBY SLANKER
Students at C.H. Campbell Elementary School had the opportunity to let their inner super hero out and at the same time show their appreciation of the school’s nutrition staff during National School Lunch Super Hero Day on May 6.
Students were encouraged to wear their favorite super hero gear in support of the nutrition staff. The day even had a super hero themed lunch menu, which included “kryptonite” corn dog, “super-vision” veggies and “re-charge” milk.
The first Friday in May was designated School Lunch Super Hero Day by the School Nutrition Association, Random House Children’s Books and national children’s author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka, creator of the “Lunch Lady Hero” series inspired by his childhood lunch lady, Jeannie. The acclaimed series is about two school cafeteria workers who serve hungry students by day and fight crime by night. The popular books put a spotlight on the important role school nutrition employees play in nurturing students.
“Today is a day of positive reinforcement for our lunch cafeterias. Canfield School’s nutrition department is a well-oiled machine. The middle school is the base kitchen and C.H. Campbell and Hilltop Elementary are satellite kitchens. Each school’s nutrition staff interacts with just about every child in the school. They see the kids every day and get to know them well, while encouraging them to eat more fruits and vegetables. Our school nutrition professionals are truly heroes,” said Terri Hutchison, Canfield Local Schools director of Food Services
Canfield serves 1,800 students daily in four buildings. Between preparing healthy meals, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies and offering service with a smile, Canfield nutrition professionals have a lot on their plates.
Updated federal nutrition standards for school meals require cafeterias to offer larger servings and a larger variety of fruits and vegetables, switch to whole grains and limit the sodium, calories and saturated fat in each meal. Canfield nutrition professionals have been mixing up the menu and getting students excited about trying the new, healthier choices in school lunch.