Spring Branch ISD Featured News

The Spring Branch ISD Child Nutrition Services (CNS) team has received the Farm Fresh “Best-of-the-Bunch” Award from the Texas Department of Agriculture (in Fall 2019) for incorporating local ingredients into school lunch menus and spotlighting healthy eating habits for students.

CNS created an award-winning menu to meet the Farm Fresh Challenge during October 2019.

CNS Dietetic Supervisor Liz Lofgren met the challenge by featuring local bread, milk, salad ingredients, oranges and apples in the school lunch offerings across the district. She monitored the students’ likes and dislikes.

Based on their preferences, some of the Farm Fresh options were added to weekly menus.

“The Fajita Chicken and Chicken Bacon Ranch salads were more popular last year than they have been in the past,” said Lofgren. “Students liked the yogurt parfaits, too, but due to COVID -19 supply problems, they haven’t been on the menu this year. I am hoping to bring them back in January 2021.”

Last year, nutrition classes were provided to students to explain MyPlate, a visual representation of which foods are needed to energize bodies and keep them healthy. Students as Treasure Forest Elementary took a tour of their school’s cafeteria, and were given a healthy fruit treat at the end.

The October 2020 Farm Fresh Challenge did not take place during School Lunch Week due to COVID-19 restrictions, but Lofgren still plans to incorporate local ingredients and foods into SBISD menus when available. 

Thank you to CNS staff for meeting the challenge of providing healthy meals for SBISD students every day!