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On the first day of school, thousands of HISD students were greeted with hot breakfasts and lunches.

Carnegie Vanguard High School Food Service Attendant Wanda Watson said she could not wait to see students back on campus. Watson and her team got the kitchen ready a week prior to their return. They set high goals for the CVHS cafeteria this year.

“We are going to serve more students and be more productive in order to give our kids the best school meals in Houston,” Watson said.

Carranza stopped by the CVHS cafeteria for lunch with the students. Before he got his grilled-cheese sandwich and loaded his lunch tray with fresh fruits and vegetables, Carranza greeted the CVHS cafeteria staff and encouraged them to keep working hard for students.

“Thank you so much for serving our students,” said Carranza. “We can’t do it without your help.”

At Farias Early Childhood Center, first-time HISD students were invited by the lunch ladies to take a bite out of a Nutrition Services school meal. Cafeteria Manager Blanca Yerena, who also supervises Moreno Elementary School, pulled double duty and served nearly 1,800 meals on her first day of managing her schools.

“We encouraged the little ones to try our chicken nuggets, and they liked them,” said Yerena. “Our returning students hugged us, as they were happy to see us, and we were happy to see them too.”

Nutrition Services chefs spent the summer developing 30 new recipes to give students tastier and healthier menu choices. The new menu items debut Sept. 12.