National School Lunch Week Shines a Spotlight on Healthy Food

This week schools across the country are celebrating National School Lunch Week with special guest speakers, new nutritious dishes, and fun activities to teach students healthy eating habits. Read how four schools are highlighting healthy mid-day meal options:

Illinois students enjoy healthy food from around the world
Students in an Arlington Heights, Illinois school district are celebrating National School Lunch Week by trying new, healthy dishes from around the globe, including Mediterranean Quinoa Salad and Spanish Chickpea Stew. The schools are further incentivizing students to eat the healthy cafeteria options by entering kids’ names in a gift card drawing if they purchase a school lunch. Learn more about the healthy meals the schools offer all year long, including fresh salads and brown rice, in this Chicago Tribune article: http://trib.in/169B4a9

Michigan schools serve fresh, local produce
Flint, Michigan schools celebrated National School Lunch Week a few days early so they could kick off their Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program at the same time. Students ate fresh apples from local orchards and other healthy dishes including broccoli salad and sweet potato puffs. http://bit.ly/1ejos5M

Florida students learn about the origins of their school lunches
In honor of National School Lunch Week, local dairy and potato farmers will pay a special visit to Englewood Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida to teach students how their products make it to cafeteria tables. Sarasota County’s Farm to School program has relationships with 22 local farmers to source healthy drinks and food such as milk, oranges, cucumbers and blueberries. http://bit.ly/GVN5Kv

Georgia schools invite families to their cafeterias for a healthy meal
On October 16, schools in Douglas County, GA are inviting parents to join their students for lunch. The special National School Lunch Week meal includes a BBQ pork sandwich, steamed corn, local apples and milk. Some of the schools’ regular healthy offerings include whole grain pasta, three different fruit options and two veggie choices. http://bit.ly/19xnaAS

How is your school celebrating National School Lunch Week? Tweet us @BagtheJunk, write on our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.