Tilwanja Lucas, Child Nutrition Director Onslow County Schools Jacksonville, NC Menu Planning

Onslow County Schools Child Nutrition Overview  26,267 Students  38 sites  21 Elementary Schools  1 Early Childhood Center  8 Middle Schools  7 High Schools  1 Learning Center  % Free and Reduced  17,071 ME daily (SBP, NSLP, ASSP)  MPLH

What would you like to see for Breakfast? Students all grade levels Staff Administrators

School Breakfast Meal Pattern

What is our competition? Local Breakfast combos- $1.00 menus $1.90 sandwich and coffee That stuff is fatty!

What can we offer comparably?

October Breakfast Menus November 2013November 2014

Our cycle menu

Lunch Meal Pattern

Consider off site competition  What are students eating in town?  What are the demographics in your town?  How can you offer what they like and still meet the meal pattern?

Considerations Price  USDA Commodities  Current Plate costs  Operating balance  Participation by status Availability  Can you process this to bring down costs?  Are staff trained to prepare from scratch  How often can you afford to offer?  Will the usage warrant bringing in to distributor?

Plan a cycle menu  Exhaust old product first  Create new fun names  Offer recipe challenge for staff or students, even teachers

CYCLE MEAL PATTERN  Use vegetable Subgroups by day to ensure compliance  Plan based on favorites-  Sandwich of the day (chicken filet, burgers, Sloppy Joe)  Tastes of the border ( tacos, chicken fajitas)  Oodles of noodles (Yakisoba, Spaghetti, Beef-aroni)  Fish Fridays (Fish Sandwich, Fish Taco, Fish Fry basket)  Meatless Monday (Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Mac & Cheese, Cheese Breadsticks / Marinara)  South Eastern Carolina (Red hot dog, BBQ Pork, Roasted Chicken  Faithful Friends- Pizza & Chicken Nuggets, Pork Chop sandwich

I know what they want, now what? Plan your work; WORK YOUR PLAN

Lunch Menus 2013 and 2014

Food is only healthy when it is eaten… Give them what they like, don’t make it hard to feed hungry children.