HISD Food Services held an in-service training Aug. 19 to discuss new processes and recipes for the upcoming school year, and three days later the facility was booming. Production began in the bakery, where thousands of muffins and rolls were cooked and packaged for delivery during the first week of school. Work also began on preparing and cooking menu items for the return of students.

This year students can look forward to new menu items including chicken quesadillas, chopped barbecue-beef sandwiches, mandarin-orange chicken bowls, and chicken parmesan pasta. More new items will continue to pop up on menus throughout the year. Cherry tomatoes, a popular item at elementary schools with the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, have also been added to the list of fresh vegetables served to all students throughout the district.

Several elementary school cafeterias also received a summer facelift as Food Services implemented the Cool*Caf dining theme. The Cool*Caf theme transforms the school dining environment using bright colors, animation and messaging that promotes good health.

HISD Food Services expects to serve more than 210,000 breakfast and lunch meals on the first day of school.