Serving Up Fresh New Flavors in School Cafeterias

Lakota’s Child Nutrition team is cooking up new flavors and expanded options for students across all grade levels this year.

From restaurant collaborations to student-requested meals, the team continues to focus on food quality, variety and meeting federal nutrition guidelines.

Partnering with Local Favorites

Students at Ridge and Plains junior schools are piloting the expansion of Lakota’s partnership with Bibibop Asian Grill this year. The monthly offering includes a Bibibop bowl with purple rice, spicy or regular chicken, several vegetable toppings and choice of sauce. Milk and a fruit serving are also included in the $5.75 meal, compared to a standard lunch at $3.50.

The launch at Plains received strong positive feedback, with students noting they enjoyed having the option, loved the taste and plan to buy it again.

Before introducing a Bibibop bowl, the Child Nutrition team reviewed every ingredient to ensure it met federal nutrition requirements. The popularity of the meal at East and West high schools led to this year’s expansion. Plains and Ridge were selected as the pilot schools because they have the highest daily lunch numbers, averaging about 400 lunches purchased per day.

While the team is open to partnering with other restaurants, collaboration brings challenges. Restaurant options must meet strict federal nutrition and serving-size requirements while remaining affordable for families. Because the Child Nutrition department is self-sustaining, all menu items must cover their operational costs without using district funds.

When partnering with a local restaurant is not feasible, whether for nutritional reasons or price point, the team is often able to find similar items through their vendors. Examples include the popular cilantro-lime rice bowls served at secondary schools and the coney dog offered districtwide.

Serving Up New Tastes

Several new and updated items are making their way to cafeteria trays across the District this year:

• Strawberry yogurt parfaits: Following a successful high-school pilot last year, students at all schools can enjoy these yogurt, strawberry and granola cups for breakfast.
• Chicken tikka masala: Previously only offered at secondary schools, last year’s successful pilot at Cherokee and Union elementaries expanded this popular dish to all elementary schools this year.
• Buffalo chicken dip: Served with Tostitos chips, this popular item is now available districtwide.
• Upgraded chicken and waffles: This popular meal received a fresh upgrade tailored by grade level. Younger learners in grades K-2 receive regular chicken tenders and syrup cups are served on a new Dutch-style waffle. Students in grades 3-12 get spicy chicken tenders along with a choice of syrup or honey. Regardless of the grade, students rave about the new waffles, likening them to funnel cakes.

The team hopes to launch new grilled chicken nuggets in January. Many chicken menu items are now purchased from Ohio-based company Rich Chicks, and staff have been very pleased with the upgraded quality and taste.

Student Foodies Welcome

Finding new menu items requires research, testing and patience. Child Nutrition Assistant Director Lynn Gilkey said the team gathers ideas by attending an annual national conference and working closely with vendors.

“We want to keep meals fresh and appealing, which means experimenting with different items based on student feedback," Gilkey said.

Student input also plays an important role in the menu items offered. When testing new options, the team offers an item at least three times before deciding whether it will become a staple. Samples may be offered before launching lesser-known dishes to encourage students to try them.

Special and seasonal items, like the annual Thanksgiving lunch, remain popular limited-time offerings.

The changes are part of an ongoing effort to improve food quality and options for students, according to Kelly Crum, Child Nutrition assistant director. All food served in Lakota’s cafeterias is made in the USA and sourced locally when possible. Lakota was also an early leader in eliminating artificial coloring in school meals.

Reigning Champions

While new items bring variety, classic choices remain top sellers. Pizza crunchers and “Chicken Nugget Tuesday” continue to lead sales districtwide, alongside “brunch for lunch,” mandarin orange chicken and sweet potato fries. 

Whether introducing a new dish or serving an old favorite, Lakota’s Child Nutrition team remains committed to fueling Lakota students with quality, nutritious meals every school day.

To view daily breakfast and lunch menus, pricing and nutritional information, visit the Child Nutrition website.