BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION SY24-25

September 5, 2024

Welcome Back!

At RCSD Food Service Department, we are excited to welcome back new and returning students to our district! While students and families were engaged with summer learning or simply enjoying time off, our food service department was busy working on some new and exciting menu offerings that will not only bring variety but also will expose student to some new flavors!

Let's Start the New School Year Sharing Great News About our Committed Staff!

On 8/29/24, thirteen of our Food Service Staff were recognized for their perfect attendance during the last school year! Congratulations! Pictured from left to right:

Luz George, Vira Gurman, Traci Darrisaw, Olga Díaz, Jeanine Roberson, Hannah Thando, Jackie Torres, Maria Gonzalez, Joeann Espinosa, Alex Berry, Sharon Cash, Ana Morales and Odette Mukankusi!

A Quick Word About What Goes Into Bringing New Menu Items

Our Food Service Department strives to providing nutritious and appealing meals for all students. To accomplish this, our department must consider many factors that ultimately impact what meals are offered to our students. Watch the following short video to learn more!

When planning new additions to the menus, we make sure to ask for students' input. To accomplish this, we conduct several taste testing. Many of the items included in this school year received a high acceptance score!

New Lunch Offerings

Dill Turkey Nuggets

Made with Turkey Breast Meat

Light Whole Grain Breading

Oven Baked

Beef Plantain Empanadas

Meets Whole Grain Rich Criteria

Oven Baked

No Artificial Colors

Sweet & Savory Plantain with Ground Beef Filling

Sidewinders Potato "Fries"

Oven-Baked

Versatile

No Artificial Flavors

New (Reformulated) Breakfast Options

The United States Department of Agriculture USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published the final rule titled: Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans in April 2024. These changes impact the National School Lunch Program NSLP, School Breakfast Program SBP, and Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Programs FFVP. One of the new regulations reduces the amount of added sugars in foods such as breakfast cereals and yogurt. Many of the vendors we source our foods from have already reformulated their products in order to comply with the final rule. Here are some of those foods:

Upstate Farms Yogurt

Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal

Possible Future Taste-Testing...

We are planning new taste-testing events this upcoming year. Take a look at what's coming your way for you to try:

Cheese & Bean Pupusas

Pupusas are a delicious Salvadoran masa (corn-based) dough cakes generally filled with cheese, beans, vegetables and meats. Some favorite accompaniments for Pupusas include a Coleslaw-like side dish and chunky tomato-based salsa.

Chicken with Vegetables Baked Eggroll

Crispy on outside, tender filling in the inside! Did you know that this popular American-Chinese side dish was likely invented by Chinese immigrants in the mid-19th century? Eggrolls are usually made with wheat-based dough, filled with minced poultry, meat or vegetables and fried. We plan to offer a healthier version that is baked, made with whole grain rich flour, and an assortment of vegetables!

Baked Sweet (Yellow) Plantain Slices

Sweet Plantains are a delicious side dish enjoyed in many countries in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Plantains can be eaten green or ripe. Yellow plantains are naturally sweet due to changes in the carbohydrate content as the fruit ripens.

Oven-Baked Yucca (Cassava) "Fries"

Yucca or Cassava is a root vegetable native to South America. It is rich in healthy carbohydrates, vitamin C and gut-friendly resistant starch.

Peanut & Tree-nut Free "CBJ" Sandwiches

Chickpeas, also known as Garbanzo Beans, are part of the legume family. Chickpeas are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins and some minerals. Research has shown that incorporating more legumes into a balanced diet, may help prevent the development of multiple chronic diseases such as Diabetes type 2 and Heart Disease.

The Amazing Chickpea® Chickpea Butter Sandwiches are free from artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup. All products are processed in a peanut and tree-nut-free facility.

Chickpea Butter & Apple Cinnamon Sandwich

Chickpea Butter & Grape Jelly Sandwich

Chickpea Butter & Strawberry Sandwich

Cooking Corner: Cheese & Bean Pupusas

Classic Bean And Cheese Pupusas Recipe by Tasty

There are many ways to stuff this delicious El Salvadoran flatbread, but our version is made with refried black beans and mozzarella cheese. Serve the pupusas alongside some curtido, a pickled cabbage slaw made with onions, carrot and some sliced jalapenos for a little spice. It's all tossed together with white vinegar and oregano.

tasty.co