Category Archives: Food Services

Westside High School culinary students deliver award-winning meal at inaugural competition

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Competition was stiff on Saturday, but the culinary team from Westside High School took home the trophy at the inaugural Cooking Up Change Competition to showcase tasty and nutritious school food.

“I have a deeper respect and knowledge for all that our cafeteria workers do to prepare food for all of the students in HISD,” said Westside’s Barrosha Boykin as she and her team accepted their trophies and prizes at the ARAMARK-sponsored contest, held at Rice University.

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HISD Meatless Mondays offer vegetarian lunch options

Houston ISD is the first school district in the state of Texas to participate in the Meatless Monday movement’s Lean & Green Day, according to Monday Campaigns, a nonprofit public health initiative. Since December, the district’s Food Services Department has made an effort to serve more vegetarian menu items for students on a regular basis.

“The average American consumes eight ounces of meat per day, which is 45 percent more than the USDA recommendation,” said HISD Food Services’ Nutrition Manager Amanda Oceguera. “By reducing consumption of meat you can reduce your risk of chronic preventable diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and cancer.”

Oceguera said HISD Food Services decided to join the movement as an added benefit to students and to accompany its efforts to continue to provide students with nutritious, well-balanced meals. Participation levels remain steady as students choose meat-free favorites and learn to enjoy new healthy options.

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HISD Food Services celebrates National Nutrition Month

HISD’s Food Services Department is celebrating National Nutrition Month throughout March. National Nutrition Month is a nutrition and education information campaign celebrated annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right,” is this year’s theme which encourages individuals to develop life-long healthy eating habits by finding the right balance of delicious AND healthy foods.

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Need new dinner ideas? Check out HISD Food Services’ Chef’s Corner!

HISD’S Food Services department has unveiled a new page on its website that features fantastically yummy and healthy recipes from district Chef Ryan Ng for families to try at home.

Working alongside Nutrition Education Dietitian Jennifer Griffin Lengyel, Ng spent about four weeks developing an initial database of ten recipes and collecting them on a page dubbed the Chef’s Corner.

“I wanted to give families some healthy items they could cook at home, together,” said Ng. “These will not be the same old boring recipes. They will use different flavors and textures to create a unique and healthy experience.”

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HISD Elementary Schools Kicking Off Thanksgiving with a Special Lunch

Nearly 20,000 meals to be served today

What:              HISD elementary schools will be getting a head start to Thanksgiving celebrations today with a specially prepared lunch by HISD Food Services.  Today’s menu includes homemade turkey and dressing with gravy, seasoned green beans, steamed corn and diced pears. Each year’s Thanksgiving lunch is a huge success with thousands of family members attending.  Last year HISD served 15,000 meals, and today they are prepared to serve up to 20,000.

Reporters are invited to attend and cover the Thanksgiving luncheon beginning at 10:15 a.m. at Kennedy Elementary School.

Who:               Elementary school students and parents

When:             Thursday, November 21 at 10:15 a.m.

Where:            Kennedy Elementary School, 400 Victoria

Students Have Their Say on Next Year’s Cafeteria Selections

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Feedback from students and parents who sampled more than 150 foot items from 44 vendors at HISD’s first annual food show will be used by HISD’s Food Services Department to help determine which items will show up in school cafeterias next school year.

About 500 people attended the show on Oct. 24 at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel, where the Waltrip High School Jazz Band performed, and raffle tickets were handed out to attendees.

Banquet tables were full of families tasting food, comparing notes, and filling out evaluation forms. “Mom, try this!” could be heard as students brought samples to parents and siblings.

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Students Have Chance to Help Decide Next Year’s Cafeteria Options

Cheesy garlic bread sticks. Chicken stuffed with broccoli and cheese. Pollock fish crusted with sweet potatoes. Pita pockets with honey and oven roasted turkey and cheese melts. Sweet potato pancakes, French toast sandwiches and empanadas.

Is your mouth watering yet?

These items and dozens of others can be sampled Oct. 24 at HISD’s first-ever, district wide Nutrition Innovation Food Show. The event is designed to showcase innovative and nutritious products being considered for HISD campuses, while also letting students and parents provide feedback as to what they’d like to see offered in school cafeterias.

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Parents Take Away Tips, Treats from Inaugural Health and Wellness Festival

HISD Chef Ryan Ng demonstrates how to create his Ziesta Chicken.

HISD’s Food Services department conducted its very first Health and Wellness Festival on Sept. 21 at North Forest HS, and more than 350 people braved the early morning rain showers to attend.

The inaugural event featured two different cooking demonstrations for budget-friendly meals. First, special guest chef Tiffany Derry from Bravo TV’s Top Chef competition showed guests how to make a healthy tropical smoothie, creole fish tacos, and a summer salad. Later, students from Jordan HS’s culinary arts program prepared a roasted chicken with fresh herbs and spices, roasted potatoes, and a green bean dish with cherry-tomato sauce.

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