Healthy Food, Healthy Kids HUSSC Success Justin Charles Director of Dining Services

Our District’s HUSSC Goal 1. Jackson Elementary 2. Round Hills Elementary 3. Sheridan Elementary 4. Stevens Elementary 5. Cochran Elementary (Pending) 6. Hepburn Elementary (Pending)  Get ’um while their young…

Real Lettuce & Broccoli No Choices Alternate Menu It Can Be Done!! LegumesOrange Vegetables Whole GrainsEvery Week? Dark Green Vegetables Food Cost In the Mix… Carrots & Squash Happy Kids HUSSC Challenges…

Dark Green Vegetables  Salad Mix –Traditional iceberg salad mix is cheap, but a barren nutritional wasteland. –Other salad solutions SEEM more expensive, but can be the same price…

Iceberg Salad Seperates - One 20 Lb Case 2. Chopped Romaine Lettuce - One 12 Lb Case 3. Mesculine Mix - One 3 Lb Bag Baby Spinach - One 3 Lb Bag Our Salad Mix

Salad Mix  ½ Cup Serving –While Mesculine Mix, Spinach, & Romaine are more expensive by the pound, they have a greater volume than iceberg lettuce. –The Salad Mix as described costs the same amount per ½ cup serving as just iceberg lettuce, but has a better color, flavor, quality…and ¼ cup of dark green leafy vegetables in each serving. Not to mention that it has actual nutritional value!!

Dark Green Vegetables  Green Leaf Lettuce –Sandwiches and Hoagies taste better with Green Leaf Lettuce than they do with shredded iceberg…and a ¼ cup is usually just one leaf! –You can shredded for Tacos or put on the side with a slice of tomato for a Burger or Chicken Patty Topper

Broccoli  Steamed, Raw, Fresh, Frozen  Not the cheapest, but most loved… –Broccoli is one of the favorite vegetables in our schools. –Raw with dip is fantastic – try putting Fat Free Ranch in the bottom of a 4oz Cup then filling it with Broccoli Florettes –Steamed on the side or mixed into a Chicken Penne Alfredo, Broccoli is one of our most requested and consumed vegetables

Mashed Roasted Mix Baked Fries Mashed Roasted Mix Baked Fries Mashed Butter Nut Squash Roasted Mix Sweet or Savory Great in the Fall Mashed Butter Nut Squash Roasted Mix Sweet or Savory Great in the Fall Raw Baby Carrots Honey Glazed Carrots Stew or Pot Pie Hidden Shredded Carrots… Raw Baby Carrots Honey Glazed Carrots Stew or Pot Pie Hidden Shredded Carrots… Sweet Potatoes Squash Carrots Carrots are the cheapest vegetable I can find per portion – Raw or Cooked. Orange Vegetables

Black Beans Pinto Beans Refried (Pinto) Beans Kidney Beans Pinto Beans Black Beans Navy Beans Mexican Food Beans can be hidden – Black Beans in Taco Meat or Pinto Beans with Fajitas or Chicken Soft Tacos Salads Chili Chick Peas/Garbanzo Beans on Salads are a favorite for our Elementary Students Legumes

Whole Grains Whole Grains Brown Rice Breads Wheat Berries Barley Granola Corn If you only serve whole grains, kids will take them. At least serve them as often as you can

Whole Wheat Flour  Different Form Counts…  Hot Dog Roll  Hoagie Roll  Hamburger Bun  Dinner Roll  Sliced Bread  Wrap  Soft Pretzel  Noodles

How do you do it every week? Don’t just meet the Challenge – Exceed the Challenge by doing as much as you can every week. Consistent Menu Weekly Alternate

How do you do it every week?  Our Alternate Menu  We still do as much as we can on the normal menu, but the alternate menu ensures that we meet the Challenge every week no matter what else we serve.

How do you do it every week?  Other Successful Menus Beef Soft Tacos With Black Beans, Brown Rice, Lettuce, Tomatoes, & Fresh Apples Low Fat Milk Whole Grain Junior Hoagie Turkey Ham With Green Leaf Lettuce, Tomatoes, & Fresh Oranges Low Fat Milk Whole Grain Baked Ziti With Carrots & Tomato Sauce Low Fat Milk Perfect Parfait w/ Granola Carrots w/Ranch String Cheese Low Fat Milk Frozen Fruity Waffle Whole Grain Waffle Frozen Yogurt Fresh Banana Blueberries Walnuts Low Fat Milk Breakfast for Lunch Whole Grain French Toast Sticks Turkey Bacon Warm Blueberries Tater Tots Low Fat Milk Whole Grain Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup & Side Salad Low Fat Milk

Calculate your current average food cost per meal Calculate Scheme Maneuver Figure out what your students will eat that meets the Challenge Change around items until you can achieve your food cost Aggressive Price Analysis Looking for the cheapest solution to an expensive problem How Did You Afford It?

Food Cost…  Start with your dream menu, whether it involves scratch recipes or processed products (there are some great whole grain processed items out there).  Price the menu and see where you are.  Change items around until you drop the cost.

Food Cost…  August 2010 Average Meal Price at WASD - $1.25  August 2010 HUSSC Alternate Menu Average Meal Price - $1.16  Chef Salad - $1.10  Beef Taco - $1.35 (with Brown Basmati Rice)  Baked Ziti - $.85  Burger - $1.38  Junior Turkey Hoagie - $1.10

Food Cost…  Opportunity Buys & Alternate Vendors  Fantastic Specials, Less than Broadline  String Cheese for 30% less than broadline price  Whole Grain Muffins for 15% less than broadline price on regular muffins  Opportunity Buys  Recently purchased an NOI item I normally use for 20% less than AFTER my NOI Credit  Whole Grain Waffles for Less than regular waffles from broadline

Problems StudentsFacultyParents Your Three Main Obstacles… Believe it or not, you will get complaints from parents about trying to serve healthier food to their kids. Teachers will complain if you disrupt anything in their world You need support from the administration for this initiative (a PTA or Teacher(s) will help a lot as a champion) Some will complain that they do not like the changes Students will love food you sample but never buy it when it is on the menu ● This is not easy…you will have problems Getting a team on board is essential. Having a group of teachers, parents, and students to talk out idea and sample foods to will be critical in gaining the support you need. Having teachers and parents that encourage students to try your new foods is overwhelmingly important. All of this does no good if the food just ends up in the trash.

Thank You!