The Feed

“The holidays are a time for warmth and togetherness, a time when our community can come together, reflect on the previous year, and walk away with a better understanding of what we are grateful for. Looking back at the previous year, I want to thank our campus staff for making 2024 such a great year for Dallas ISD's Food and Child Nutrition Services. With your help, we have gotten our message out, boosted meal participation, and fed the next generation of leaders here in North Texas.

For our families who count on us to provide access to free nutritious meals during the school year, I am happy to announce that we will again be serving pop-up meal pick up during the long winter break. At Dallas ISD, we are proud to say that there is room at our table for everyone!”

— Debi Rowley, Executive Director, Food and Child Nutrition Services

Food and Child Nutrition Services (FCNS) is stepping up to support families in the Dallas community by offering FREE "Pop-Up" meals to children during the long winter break. Our Break Meals initiative is a lifeline for many families who depend on school meals during the academic year, and we are proud to go above and beyond this winter to provide additional support so that students continue to have consistent access to nutritious meals even when school is out.

On December 23rd and 30th, 2024, we will distribute two days' worth of free breakfast and lunch to all children 18 years and younger or up to 21 years with disabilities. Students do not need to be enrolled in Dallas ISD to participate in this program, but children must be present to receive meals. This initiative will help to ensure that families have access to nutritious meals even when schools are closed for the Winter Break.

For more information, visit our website!

Grapefruit is bitter because it contains a flavonoid called naringin, one of many bad-tasting compounds nature has created to protect plants from hungry animals. The red grapefruit grown here in Texas is sweet because it is naturally low in naringin, which is why it is widely considered the best in the world. Florida grows more grapefruit than Texas, but much of the Sunshine State’s annual harvest consists of pink and white varieties used for juicing. Our fruit is meant to be eaten right out of the peel.

Did you know that all red grapefruit originated right here in Texas? In 1929, on the eve of the Great Depression, a McAllen grower named A. E. Henninger noticed a fruit with a curious red blush on one of his grapefruit trees. The flesh was ruby red and much sweeter than any grapefruit he had ever tasted. Henninger carefully cut fresh new buds from the branch bearing the mutant fruit and grafted them onto other trees, which also began producing red fruit. In the years that followed, similar mutations were found across the Valley, and soon, each grower began developing their own strain of the red grapefruit. The sweet new variety put the Rio Grande Valley on the map and revived the industry, not only here in Texas but also in Florida, California, and beyond! And, In 1993 the red grapefruit was named the official state fruit of Texas.

For December's Harvest of the Month, Dallas ISD will serve grapefruit in all school cafeterias! Our grapefruit will be coming from Wonderful Citrus in Edinburg, Texas. Harvest of the Month is an initiative that promotes eating seasonal fruits and vegetables in our school cafeterias. Each month, Dallas ISD features a different fruit or vegetable on our campus menus so that we can increase access to fresh produce for Dallas ISD students. All of our Harvest of the Month produce is locally grown, and this initiative helps support Texas farms and farmers.

To learn more about grapefruit, click HERE!

Dontavius Taylor

"It all started with my three great aunts (Mattie Berry, Anime Edmond, and Uncle Jr's Wife), who started with FCNS in the early 70's at John Henry Brown Elementary. My mother joined FCNS shortly after in 1986. I joined FCNS in 2005. Seeing these ladies create something out of nothing always inspired me because we didn't always have much, and seeing them put all the love, sweat, and hard work into creating delicious food only made me dream of the possibilities I could achieve one day.

The most rewarding part of my role at FCNS is teaching. My goal is simple: "Teach one, reach one." I remember being asked to participate in career day by the students when I was a cafeteria supervisor. The kids were intrigued and wanted to know more about what a cafeteria manager did and how I was able to feed so many kids at one time. To the students we serve, we are heroes/sheroes in their eyes! And that's all that matters. I personally believe we are here to serve, no matter the need, big or small. Our daily mission is to make sure our students get a healthy, balanced meal. We also want them to enjoy what they eat, understand what they are eating, and the benefits of eating nutritional meals. The most important things to remember when serving our students are: Respect, Kindness, and Love."

— Dontavius Taylor, Central Kitchen Supervisor

Thank you, Dontavius, for your passion, dedication, and service to Dallas ISD! To read more about Dontay's story, click HERE!

On Thursday, November 14th, 2024, Dallas ISD planted its first fruit orchard at the Environmental Education Center in Seagoville. The orchard consists of forty fruit trees, ten berry bushes, a few blackberry vines, and a water-saving drip irrigation system. The plants were donated to Dallas ISD by Aligned Data Centers, which partnered with Grow North Texas and The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation to make it happen. Fifteen students from Sunset High School worked with more than seventy volunteers to plant the orchard and install the drip irrigation system at the Environmental Education Center.

“We routinely work with local Texas farmers to serve fresh fruits and vegetables in our school cafeterias. Part of our mission is to promote healthy eating and educate students about food. That is why we are so happy to see this project happen.”

— Melinda Hillis, Assistant Director of Support Services, FCNS

Did you know that FCNS writes curriculum for our Harvest of the Month Initiative? The Environmental Education Center has played a big role in getting our curriculum to Dallas ISD's garden teachers. To download our curriculum from the EEC's website, click HERE!

Cultures from all over the world celebrate the winter solstice, from Christmas to Hanukkah, Diwali to Kwanza, and they all celebrate in their own way. But whatever the culture, whatever the origin, whatever the foods, games, songs, or rituals—they all celebrate light and its ability to dispel darkness.

During the winter, our days grow shorter and shorter as the sun's position in the sky moves further south, and every day that passes has a little less sunlight than the day before. Then, in late December, the sun returns, and our days start getting longer again. Many of our winter holidays trace their origins back to celebrating the return of the sun, and all the good things that the light of a long day can give us.

Our winter holidays are a reminder that light is a fundamental gift. Without it, we couldn't grow food, we wouldn't be able to see, read, or learn. In times of darkness, we instinctively come together around light and the warmth that it gives. Light is community, warmth, and life. As days grow shorter and winter approaches, we are reminded that light is a comfort, especially in times of darkness, and our winter holidays remind us that the darkness won't last forever, that the sun will return. It is for this reason that so many of our holiday stories are about rebirth, resurrection, endurance, and overcoming obstacles. That is why we light the menorah, why we decorate our trees with little electric bulbs, why we light kwanza candles, and why religious services often end in darkness and communal candlelight.

So, this holiday season, take a moment to think about the light in your life and appreciate it for what it is—everything that is good and wonderful and strong. And remember, long periods of darkness are only temporary—the sun will always return.

To learn more about the Winter Solstice click HERE or watch the video below.

‘Tis the season for chilly weather, cozy vibes, and festive cheer! This December, we’re turning up the heat with our Recipe of the Month: Mexican Hot Chocolate. It’s rich, creamy, and comforting—just how hot chocolate should be—but with a twist! A dash of warm cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne bring a little extra warmth to this winter treat.

A sip of history:

Mexican hot chocolate traces its origins back to the Aztecs and Mayans, who enjoyed a rich cacao drink flavored with vanilla and chili peppers. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico centuries later, they brought chocolate back to Europe and added milk and sugar to make it less bitter. Eventually, this cross-cultural exchange resulted in the drink that is known and loved around the world today.

Flavor with benefits:

Cocoa, cayenne, and cinnamon are antioxidant-rich foods that could help promote optimal health and protect against certain health conditions. Cocoa and cinnamon, in particular, are rich in polyphenols, a potent antioxidant that could improve blood sugar control, lower cholesterol, and reduce triglycerides - key factors in heart disease and diabetes prevention.

Ready to make this yourself? Watch the full video below and get all the steps to make your own mug of Mexican Hot Chocolate or click HERE for the full recipe!