Orange County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services (OCPS FNS) received the 2010 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services Best Practice Award. This distinguished regional award is given for promoting the “Best Healthy School Environment through a Wellness Program” as determined by the State of Florida’s Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs. Orange County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services demonstrated an increase in student healthy meal selection due continued focus of the districtwide Wellness Policy.
The department focuses on wellness programs which involve students, parents, staff, and the community. The programs include educational curriculum, community partnerships, student organizations, events, communication, and continued improvements in student menus and environment. According to FNS Director, Lora Gilbert, “Serving nutritious meals that our students like is the right thing to do. Tastes change with each generation and as a school district, we take the lead for the nutritional benefit of our student customers through our Wellness Policy, which provides our nutritional road map.”
The partnership efforts extend to the Orlando Magic whose players visited schools for National School Lunch Week and the introduction of the first NBA themed school-based Orlando Magic food cart . Other wellness partners include celebrity Chef Jon Ashton, PBS Kids Miss Rosa, and nutrition motivational speaker and performer Jill Jayne.
Each year, OCPS FNS serves more than 26 million meals and snacks for the nation’s 10th-largest school district. Approximately 143,000 breakfast and lunches are served per day or one million meals every seven school days in OCPS. The department brings in more than $45 million in federal money to the school district, providing award winning programs.
