Category Archives: Food Services

More fruits and vegetables on the menu at HISD schools

HISD students returning to school this year will be welcomed back with a greater variety of healthy food selections on their cafeteria’s menu. As part of the USDA’s revised nutrition standards for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, the Houston Independent School District has further updated the school menu to incorporate the new meal requirements and offer students additional healthful menu items without impacting the cost of lunch for students.

“We are committed to serving our students healthy, nutritious meals,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said. “We have always set high nutrition standards for school meals. We support the USDA’s updated meal requirements and will continue to promote healthy eating habits among our students.”

This year’s school menus feature low- and non-fat dairy options, lean protein choices, a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, assorted whole grain products and 100 percent fruit juice with no sugar added.

Some of the specific menu changes for this school year include:

Availability of more whole grains
Increase in fruits and vegetables being offered
Offering flavored milk in fat-free or skim varieties while unflavored or white milk will be offered as skim or 1%
Decreasing the number of desserts offered to allow for an increase in higher nutrient foods

In addition to adding healthier menu items, HISD Food Services is serving locally grown foods, offering new made-to-order fresh food concepts, piloting healthy fruit and veggie stations, supporting school gardens, and increasing nutrition awareness in our schools and communities.

HISD Awards Top Food Services Staff and Recognizes Cafeterias of the Year

The Houston Independent School District presented numerous awards to recognize the hard work and excellence of the district’s Food Services Department and school cafeterias.

“Providing nutritious meals to more than 200,000 students throughout the school year and summer school takes hard work, and it’s important our employees know just how valuable they are to the district,” Superintendent Terry Grier said. “We applaud their commitment to ensuring every student has access to a good, healthy meal at school.”

Awards were given for the following categories: Spirit of Service Award, Honorary Spirit of Service, and Team Lead of the Year.

“We are truly proud of these employees. The positive attitude and dedication they bring to work every day is truly exceptional,” said Brian Giles, Senior Administrator for Food Services. “These annual awards serve as a means to let them know we recognize and thank them for their hard work and efforts.”

HISD also recognized the 2011-2012 Cafeterias of the Year based on their ability meet and exceed goals set by the department and provide excellent dining atmospheres, among other guidelines.

HISD’s Food Services Department has almost 2,000 employees who service nearly 300 schools. These employees are tasked with providing healthy, nutritious meals for all students, teachers and staff in the district.

Below is list of awards presented:

Spirit of Service Award

Kandy Simmons, Herrera Elementary School
Samantha Pearson, Cook Elementary School
Alicia Villalobos, Lantrip Elementary School
Patricia Strickland, Bonner Elementary School
Antionetta Means, Frost Elementary School
Robin Morris, Hobby Elementary School
Janet Vallair Perry, Lovett Elementary School
Maggie Hughes, T.H. Rogers
Veronica Means, Blackshear Elementary School
Gilda Canales, Oak Forest Elementary School
LaDeshia Ricks, Furr High School
Tammie Green, Chavez High School
Kimberly Wilson, Westbury High School
Chiquia White, Marshall Middle School
Ola Livingston, Energized STEM

Honorary Spirit of Service

Mark Allen, Operations Area Manager
Bridgette Chenier, Operations/SEA Associate

Cafeteria of the Year

Lee High School
Hamilton Middle School
Herrera Elementary
Durham Elementary

Team Lead of the Year

Lanquelyn Sumler, Reagan High School
Marylyn Williams, Hartman Middle School
Danielle Wiltz, Bastian Elementary School
Eliva Jimenez, Gregory Lincoln K-8

HISD providing free summer meals to children through July 12

The Houston Independent School District will again provide free breakfast and free lunch to all of Houston’s children between the ages of 1 and 18 at more than 200 schools.

Children can stop by any participating HISD school Monday through Thursday, from June 11 through July 12, between the hours 8 and 9 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for lunch.

Click here (PDF) for a list of participating HISD schools and here (PDF) to see the flier.

For information on where to find free meals on Fridays and after July 12, contact the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department at 713-676-6832 or dial 2-1-1.

There is no paperwork involved and no registration is needed. A child does not have to be enrolled in summer school to receive a free meal. The only requirement for the child is to be between the ages of 1 and 18. Adults may also participate in the program by purchasing breakfast for $2 and lunch for $3.25.

Questions regarding the Summer Food Service Program may be directed to HISD/ARAMARK Food Services at 713-491-5944.

HISD Seeks Refund from Hamburger Patty Vendor

The Houston Independent School District has accused a California-based food supplier of breaching its contract with the district by using lean finely textured beef (LFTB) in hamburger patties sold to the district.

HISD officials conducting an inventory of all food supplies in the wake of parents’ concerns about the use of LFTB discovered that Don Lee Farms included the product in quarter-pound beef patties sold to HISD this year. The district has committed to not serving LFTB and has confirmed that no suppliers of ground beef served in HISD schools use LFTB.

HISD’s bid specifications prohibit any variety meats, filler, or extenders in the foods served in the district’s cafeterias. LFTB is treated with Ammonium hydroxide and is not sold as a stand- alone product. It is a cheaper and inferior grade of beef than the district intended to serve to its children.

“LFTB is not an acceptable variety meat, filler, or extender for a product to be served to school children,” HISD’s legal office wrote in a demand letter mailed to Don Lee Farms on April 10. “This constitutes a breach of the agreement and demand is made for immediate pickup of the product and refund of the purchase price.”
As of today, the company has not agreed to HISD’s demand for a refund, and the district is considering further legal action.

HISD this school year has purchased 14,080 cases of quarter-pound charbroiled beef patties from Don Lee Farms at a cost of $523,776. The remaining unused inventory of beef patties supplied by Don Lee Farms totals 1,045 cases worth $38,874.

LFTB is made from meat trimmings that are treated to eliminate bacteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not require food suppliers to list LFTB as an ingredient.

HISD ground beef supply free of so-called “pink slime”

All HISD ground beef suppliers have confirmed this week that they do not use lean finely textured beef.

Houston Independent School District officials contacted the suppliers soon after concerns were raised about lean finely textured beef, also known as pink slime. As of Wednesday afternoon, each vendor had supplied HISD with written documentation confirming they have not sent the district any of the controversial products. In addition, HISD officials have inspected about $800,000 worth of frozen ground beef stored at the district’s food services facility and confirmed it does not contain lean finely textured beef.

In the future, HISD will decline to purchase any products that contain lean finely textured beef.

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