Turkey can be a powerful tool for school foodservice operators when it comes to creating meals that offer balanced nutrition and exciting tastes that appeal to students.
A study of some schools in Texas found that students who participated in recess before lunch ate more of their food and performed better in school. Registered dietitian nutritionist Katy Taylor, the Ector County Independent School District's director of School Nutrition, said students who ate lunch after recess consumed more of their entree, vegetables, fruit and milk.
Detroit Public Schools launched a weekly farmers market program at two schools, selling fruits and vegetables grown by students and staff in an urban farming project. Office of School Nutrition Executive Director Betti Wiggins says the district wants children to eat more fruits and vegetables, and getting them to grow and sell the produce teaches them entrepreneurial skills.