Press Release Contact: Karen E. Hylton, 314-345-4689

GOODBYE TO DAILY NACHOS, HELLO TO MEATLOAF, GREENBEANS AND MASHED POTATOES
AS SLPS DEBUTS HEALTHIER MIDDLE SCHOOL LUNCHES

Daily servings of nachos and cheese, pizzas, and hamburgers will vanish from middle school lunch menus on February 6 as the Saint Louis Public Schools district launches an initiative to improve the nutritional value of its lunch menus, Superintendent Creg E. Williams announced.

Replacing the “fast food” items most days will be a more nutritious, balanced diet featuring choices like meat loaf with red sauce, lasagna, chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans.

“A hot school lunch has the potential to be a student’s best meal of the day – and we want to make sure it’s a lunch that would please Mom and Dad,” said Dr. Williams. “We are telling students what we know their parents believe too: ‘Take it easy on the fast food – and while you’re at it, try some vegetables, too.”

For too long, the superintendent noted, the District has catered to the preferences of students, offering students too many bad choices – with items like nachos and cheese, burgers and pizza available on a daily basis. It was not unusual for a child to lunch on nachos every day.

From now on, nachos and cheese will be offered just once a month, and pizza and hamburgers will be the main hot choices on Fridays. By limiting the days these choices are offered, the District hopes to encourage students to learn how to make healthier choices for their meals.

The sweeping changes kick off the district’s commitment towards providing nutrition meals for all students, which can ultimately impact their academic performance. A similar new menu will debut at elementary schools in March. The District also plans to re-examine and improve its breakfast menus.

The new items will meet all federal and state nutritional guidelines.

ARAMARK Food Services provides all SLPS meals. “ARAMARK and the St. Louis Public Schools are committed to giving our students the best opportunity for choosing healthier options,” said Jan Gaither, purchasing and menu planning manager for ARAMARK. “ The items that will be on the new menus will give students a home style taste with the best possible nutritional values.”

Gone are the daily nacho and cheese snacks. Hello to greens beans, mashed potatoes and rice with sweet and sour chicken. On Fridays, choices will be more in line with what students enjoy, which is the choice of a hamburger or pizza. Some of the menu items will not change such as diverse fruit and salad selections “We believe it’s important for parents to give their input because that’s the process of change,” said Superintendent Creg E. Williams.