Orlando students got to say goodbye to mediocre school lunches as cafeterias across Orange County Public Schools did a “Level Up” to their menus in honor of National School Lunch Week.
A Wing Bar provided students the option to enjoy one of their favorite menu items in three different sauces — teriyaki, orange or General Tso — all while staying within the federal nutrition standards of fat, calories and sodium.
“This week is National School Lunch week,” said Sharon Rouse, Windermere High School Food and Nutrition Services manager. “We’re celebrating here in the district, plus across the nation, with new menu items to get the students all pumped up.”
One OCPS student loved the new options. “The wing bar – that was spectacular, impeccable, great you could say,” said OCPS student Ethan Botelho. “I really enjoyed it.”
This is just one of the innovative ways OCPS caters to students’ preferences, in hopes of making school lunches nutritious and delicious.
“The district always levels up,” added Rouse, who said they always include the students in the decisions. Her passion for the local students was clear.
“It has to be within you to be able to serve those students every single day,” Rouse said. “It’s something that no one can teach you, it has to be inside you and it’s here – this is my passion, seeing the kids every single day.”
The students seem to recognize that passion. “I appreciate it,” added Botelho, who said the OCPS employees go beyond the minimum district requirements. “They want to make things better, and that takes heart to want to make things better.”
“I’m here for them, me and my team,” Rouse said.
OCPS Food & Nutrition Services serve more than 125,000 lunches a day, and close to 65,000 lbs of fruit per week. All OCPS students receive breakfast, lunch and super at no charge. The Food & Nutrition Services workforce is nearly 1,500 employees. Learn more about National School Lunch Week here.
