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The Squall dives into how the Food and Nutrition Department operates within the cafeteria and explores potential options to expand the DHS lunch experience
WRITTEN BY SAM GIBSON AND KADEN JENSEN
What Is The Food And Nutrition Department?
Many students at DHS don’t know what the Food and Nutrition Department is and how it operates. The Food and Nutrition Department is a self-funded department within Dexter Schools, meaning that they make money and operate independently, rather than from district funding. They operate under the guidelines of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program of the USDA.
How Is Pricing Determined?
The price of meals in the cafeteria is determined by the price of the ingredients used as well as the price of labor to make the meals. Pricing is also regulated by the USDA, which adjusts prices based on CPI and inflation (If you don’t know what that means, ask Mr. Dubay). Additionally, the Food and Nutrition department receives a subsidy for every meal served that they use to help keep prices low for families in the community.
How Does F&N Decide What Food To Serve?
The Food and Nutrition Department operates under the National School Lunch program and School Breakfast Program of the USDA, and as such has several rules that it has to follow when choosing food to serve in the cafeteria. One of these rules is that all lunches must offer the following food groups: fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains and milk. Students can then choose to have as few as 3 of these food groups, so long as one of them is 1⁄2 cup of fruit or vegetable.
WHAT STUDENTS WANT VS. WHAT THEY CAN HAVE
“I would definitely be in favor and say that I would use microwaves, 100%. It opens the options for food you can bring from home.” – Junior Jack McCalla
“I would support open-campus lunch, maybe just for seniors. I don’t understand for the life of me why we don’t have a microwave and Mill Creek does.” – Senior Will O’Haver
Why Lunchroom Expansion Options Are Limited
Based on existing food and nutrition regulations and safety concerns, few of the proposed lunch expansion options would feasible. Food trucks, vending machines, open campus lunch, and DoorDash, are all eliminated. Microwaves have a couple of concerns but could be addressed.
Mill Creek Has Microwaves… Why Don’t We?
The proposed lunch change with the greatest student support was the addition of microwaves in the cafeteria, with 74% of students answering that they would use microwaves if they were added. Students argued that they would be able to bring a greater variety of food from home if microwaves were present in the lunchroom, as they could then warm up food they had brought from home. Some concerns raised by members of the administration were long lines, students placing things in the microwaves that shouldn’t be there, and general issues with the cleanliness of students heating their food with microwaves.
“Many of these seem logical and would be great options from a student perspective; however, students don’t understand the possible implications of such option […] The other reasons are related to safety, attendance, and management issues.” – Assitant Principal Mr. David Teddy
