Parkers Chapel schools announce National Lunch Week activities

To recognize the National School Lunch Program and the 30 million children it serves every day, Parkers Chapel schools will recognize National School Lunch Week from Oct. 9-13.

According to a release, the theme, “Recipes for Success” is an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the schools’ cafeteria staff and students who participate in the school lunch programs.

National School Lunch Week will emphasize healthy foods offered daily at Parkers Chapel School District. The week will include the following events:

• Elementary students will be selected by Principal Carrie Burson to participate in K-12 Culinary Connection’s “Junior Chef,” where each student will make their own pizza with Chef Matt Murr, Regional Director Austin Crank and Associate Director Erin Senn.

• Elementary students were given a survey to choose a “School Lunch Theme” for the week and they picked “Sports.” Each day, every elementary student participating the lunch program for the day will receive a little prize representing the theme for the day as a token of appreciation for trying new healthy meals.

• Tickets will be distributed to every middle and high school student that participates in the lunch

program each day. A winner from a drawing after lunch services on Oct. 13 will be announced. Each winner will receive a $50 Walmart gift card.

“School lunches are healthier than ever, with more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and less fat and sodium,” said Austin Crank, regional director of operations, and Erin Senn, associate director of operations from K-12 Culinary Connection. “National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about all the benefits of our lunch program, and the appealing choices we offer.”

The federally-funded National School Lunch Program provides nutritionally balanced, healthy meals to students every day.

The program, which has been serving the nation’s children for over 60 years, requires school meals to meet federal nutrition standards such as offering fruits and vegetables every day, serving whole grain-rich foods and limiting fat, calories and sodium. K-12 Culinary Connection works with these meals making them restaurant-style quality food featuring several options in many various categories, as well as activities that make going to the lunch room a fun part of the day.

The “Recipes for Success” campaign is made possible by the nonprofit School Nutrition Association. Parents and students can follow the fun using the hashtag #NSLW17. For more information on National School Lunch Week, visit https://schoolnutrition.org/nslw/.