Biscuit tastings taking place at PSD as data sought for state waiver
Polk School District (PSD) school nutrition managers are providing “biscuit tastings” in cafeterias across the county.
Dr. Linda D. Holland, director, said the purpose of this activity is to obtain a Whole Grain Waiver for biscuits from Georgia School Nutrition Division and USDA.
This would allow cafeteria staff to serve fluffy, white flour biscuits. Therefore, each school in Polk is now conducting the biscuit tastings.
A tabulation of the results will be submitted to the state with a written waiver request.
This Whole Grant Waiver Request for biscuits is made on behalf of PSD. Polk School District SFA has documented poor student acceptability of whole grain biscuits and requests a whole grain waiver for biscuits. The whole grainrich products offered by Polk School District SFA received significant negative student/ parent feedback during product blind tastings.
Sharon Daniell, assistant manager at Rockmart High School, said a nutritious break- fast is a great way for students to start the day.
“Served with the biscuits is a variety of menu items,” she said. “Youth can choose nutritional food on any given day, including a hot and cold entrée’.”
Breakfast choices include: chicken biscuits, sausage biscuits, breakfast bagels and muffins, juice and other items, according to Daniell.
For lunch, students can choose pizza, chicken sandwiches, spaghetti, hot wings, and chicken nuggets. There are also vegetables that can include corn, green beans, sweet potato tots and tossed salad.
Additionally, students are served healthy desserts, like pineapple, frozen juice bars and fresh fruit and even sweet watermelon.
Students can also choose to select fresh vegetables, fruit, and meat from the salad bar.
Even if that is not enough, Power Packs are available. This is another option, which can include juice, fruit, cheese stick, chips, a whole grain cookie, and yogurt, all together in a bag for easy pickup.
“With all the hard work the students put into reaching academ- ic goals, RHS offers a wide variety of smart snacks to choose from,” Daniell said.
She invites parents to visit RHS and enjoy breakfast and lunch.
“You will find that we have faculty monitoring lunch during the three lunch shifts,” Daniell said. “The salad bar is a big hit with the teachers. At different times, you may see the principal, or vice principals eating school meals.”
Holland emphasized that PSD nutrition staff has been trained to read labels, and prepare food the right way, based on the U.S. Dietary guidelines.
“The school nutrition staff of Polk School District is always eager to learn and constantly seek new products and food preparation techniques,” she said.