The Sunnyvale School District (SSD) Child Nutrition Department is making significant strides in enhancing its meal programs, driven by valuable input from students and families. This year has seen a remarkable increase in scratch-cooked meals, with 68,812 breakfasts, 188,065 lunches, and 29,692 after-school meals served so far.
Parental feedback underscores the success of these initiatives, with 31% of SSD parents reporting an improvement in meals compared to last year. The department has actively responded to preferences for healthier options, evidenced by the removal of products containing Red Dye No. 3, ahead of FDA guidelines.
Improvements extend to the nutritional content of meals, with all cereals now containing 6 grams of sugar or less. The district has also expanded its menu, introducing 20 new breakfast entrées and 44 new lunch entrées this year. There’s a concerted effort to offer more vegetarian options and a greater variety of cultural cuisines to cater to diverse tastes. This focus on variety and quality in scratch cooking has led to an increase in the range of meals offered.
The Sunnyvale School District’s meal program offers a variety of appealing options for both lunch and breakfast. For lunch, students can enjoy dishes such as Chicken Alfredo Lasagne, a “Burger Bowl”, and a Green Goddess Sandwich. Breakfast options are equally diverse, including a hearty Sausage Bagel Sandwich, Banana Split Parfait, and Turkey Chorizo Breakfast Totchos.
Student and family feedback has been instrumental in shaping these changes, highlighting a desire for “fresh, not frozen or canned” food (17%), “low in sugar/salt” options (21%), and “lean protein” (15%). The department has also made strides in sustainability by removing wrapped cutlery, thereby reducing plastic waste. The popularity of initiatives like “Taco Tuesday,” with an average student consumption rate of 85%, further demonstrates the positive reception to these improvements.
We are incredibly excited to continue this important work, and we’re always looking for more feedback! Please share your thoughts with your schools or feel free to contact the Child Nutrition Department staff secretary directly at shirley.doria@sesd.org.
