Nutrition Services will mark National School Lunch Week with cafeteria-decorating contests, Lucky Lunch Tray giveaways, and a behind-the-scenes cafeteria media tour to showcase the work that goes into making and serving good food.

With a theme of “Level Up with a Healthy Lunch,” National School Lunch Week provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the mission of Nutrition Services – providing students with access to good food that is simple, wholesome, colorful, and made with locally sourced ingredients.

The week is observed nationally from Oct. 15 to 19.

“We know the food our students eat provides the fuel they need to power through a day of learning,” Nutrition Services Officer Betti Wiggins said. “With good, healthy food playing such an important role in students’ education, we are proud to celebrate National School Lunch Week in HISD.”

National School Lunch Week is designed to promote the benefits of the National School Lunch Program, a federal program that provides nutritionally balanced meals to students at low or no cost.

HISD will celebrate the week by hosting cafeteria-decorating contests and sticker giveaways at all district elementary schools, and Lucky Lunch Tray Contests for students at nine select middle and high schools — Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men, Long Academy, Revere Middle School, Wilson Montessori School, and Northside, Chavez, Sterling Aviation, Worthing, and Carnegie Vanguard high schools. Students at these schools will have the opportunity to win a sports-themed prize if they go through the serving line on a designated day.

“Our focus is on good food, but we are also educating students on the importance of being active and making healthy choices, said Wiggins. “The prizes are designed to get students moving because exercise is a great compliment to healthy food.”

Additionally, HISD is inviting media to a special behind the scenes cafeteria tour at Mandarin Immersion Magnet School on Oct. 17 to showcase all the hard work that goes into preparing and serving good food to students every day.