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OCPS Celebrates National School Lunch Week

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To recognize the National School Lunch Program, serving 190,000 meals to children each day, OCPS will celebrate National School Lunch Week from October 7-11, 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.

 

The school meals program has changed to meet higher nutrition standards and features trendy and current popular menu items and flavorings such as the Sofrito Marinade. Sharing the menus and items with the “School Lunch Playlist” during this week is made possible through hashtags #NSLW19, #SchoolLunchPlaylist”, and #SchoolLunch. This is a chance for parents and students to see new cuisine that is made from scratch in school kitchens.  

 

“School lunches offer students fruits and vegetables, whole grains and milk, and meet federal nutrition standards limiting fat, calories, and sodium,” said Lora Gilbert, Sr. Director of the OCPS Food and Nutrition Services Program. “National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about all the benefits our lunch program offers and the appealing variety of choices in the cafeteria. We have expanded into vegetarian items and our featured entrée Fiesta Taco Bowl uses a plant-based protein alternative. When tested with students they couldn’t tell it was a vegetarian dish.”

 

National School Lunch Week will highlight the nutritious foods available with cucumbers being the Florida Harvest of the Month vegetable. Menus for October 7-11 feature:


Monday: Rock N’ Roll Day

Middle and high schools: Garlic French bread and marinara sauce 

Elementary schools: Cheeseburger sliders 

Tuesday: Tango Salsa Day

Middle and high schools: Fiesta Taco Bowl with fresh Pico de Gallo and Spicy Jalapeño Pico de Gallo at high schools

Elementary schools: Beef Nachos or Chicken Fajita Wrap 

Wednesday: Country Western Day

All schools: Breakfast for lunch featuring scrambled eggs and turkey bacon

Elementary schools: Macaroni and Cheese or Pulled Pork 

Thursday: Groovy Sock Day and Florida Harvest of the Month – farm-fresh Cucumbers

            All schools: BBQ Chicken and Cucumber Dippers with homemade hummus

Friday: Caribbean Day

All schools:  Jerk Chicken Wings, Sweet Plantains, Fruit Pearls, and Pineapple 

Middle and high schools: Authentic Cuban Sandwich and Island Black Beans with Sofrito Marinade

 

The federally funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has been fueling students for success for more than 70 years. Currently, we have 112 schools in the USDA Community Eligibility Program that provide students with meals at no charge. In the remaining schools, students can apply to receive free or reduced meals through an application process. 

 

For more information on Orange County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Program visit https://www.ocps.net/departments/food_and_nutrition_services.