Category Archives: Nutrition Services

HISD Nutrition Services looking for people to join their team 

HISD’s Nutrition Services department plays a vital part in the district’s mission to prepare students for success after school. Students can’t learn if they’re not properly fed.

The Nutrition Services team members understand this and take their jobs seriously, which is why nearly 500 job seekers recently attended their job fair. While about 200 people were hired, Nutrition Services still needs more motivated team members to help cook and serve healthy meals to the district’s students.  Continue reading →

HISD Nutrition Services kicks off free summer meals program 

The Houston Independent School District kicked off its No Cost Summer Meals Program with a party at Brookline Elementary School, where the community received information about the program, food items from the Houston Food Bank, and enjoyed a morning of fun and games.

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HISD dietitian named 2016 Outstanding Nutrition Educator

The Houston Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics presented HISD Education Dietitian Jennifer Lengyel with the 2016 Outstanding Nutrition Education Award recently at its end-of-the-year meeting, recognized Lengyel for her major contributions educating HISD students on nutrition.

Lengyel was awarded the distinction from among two other nutrition education professionals in the Houston area. The nominating committee recognized Lengyel’s inspiring leadership in nutrition education by teaching students healthy eating habits.

Nominating Committee Chair Kasandra Davis praised Lengyel’s innovative ideas for working with librarians, nurses and teachers. “Jenny loves teaching nutrition,” Davis said. “Many students remember her year to year and look forward to her exciting presentations.”

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HISD students become nutrition ninjas during games with Houston Texans

The fun started early for Houston ISD elementary school students from nine schools as they participated recently in the first HISD Nutrition Ninja Warrior Competition at Houston Methodist Training Center. The students were ready to take the gold back to their school during the morning games.

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HISD Dietitians Jennifer Lengyel and Nan Cramer organized the event with DairyMax and the Houston Texans to teach students about the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity.

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Nutrition Services honors cafeteria employees at End of the Year Awards 

Nutrition Services school cafeteria staff on Tuesday were honored at the department’s End of the Year Awards gala. The ceremony, held at Wheatley High School, recognized school cafeterias and individuals at elementary, middle, and high schools.

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Nutrition Services jumps into action to help schools affected by flooding

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Maria Aristondo prepares emergency sack lunches for HISD kitchens affected by recent flooding.

During the recent heavy storms that swept the Houston area and the resulting flooding, Nutrition Services staff members were quick to respond.

Some HISD schools were left soggy and unable to prepare student meals in their school’s cafeterias. Cue the Nutrition Services shipping kitchen, 800 sack lunches were prepared in fewer than 15 minutes.

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HISD chefs spotlighted by Texas Department of Agriculture 

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Chef Trainer Brittany Jones teaches students how to make pumpkin spice muffins.

The Texas Department of Agriculture recently highlighted HISD Nutrition Services Chefs David Husbands and Brittany Jones in their spotlight newsletter, Chefs in Texas Schools, for developing nutritious school meals for students.

Husbands, who is the executive chef, creates reimbursable school meals and works closely with dietitians to develop school menus. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with other colleagues and strives to provide better service to HISD students. Continue reading →

HISD Nutrition Services is perfectly peachy after Texas Department of Agriculture award

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HISD Nutrition Services was recently recognized with the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Perfect Peach Award for offering locally sourced products such as summer squash, apples and watermelon on school menus.

The state’s Local Products Challenge, which asked districts to use more Texas products in their schools, is in line with Nutrition Services’ commitment to use locally grown products on its menus so students become familiar with the agricultural diversity of the Lone Star State.

At Stevens Elementary School, HISD Chef Brittany Jones recently demonstrated how to use summer squash in a variety of fun and tasty ways. “The students enjoyed learning about spaghetti squash,” said Jones. “They never imagined they could use a vegetable in place of noodles.”

Besides fruits and vegetables, HISD also serves milk and fresh bread from Texas.

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NASA astronaut celebrates National School Breakfast Week with HISD

AstronautatGrissomESNASA astronaut Mike Fincke visited with Grissom ES students on March 10 to help HISD’s Nutrition Services Department celebrate National School Breakfast Week.

First, he presented a video that showed him and his fellow astronauts enjoying their mission on the International Space Station and fueling their bodies for space travel.

“We have fun with our food because it floats. Do you know why it floats?” asked Fincke. “No gravity!” shouted the students.

Fincke explained how space food needs to be packaged to stay fresh and nutritious so astronauts can remain healthy while in space. “We especially enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables we get when a care package is delivered with a supply cargo from earth.”

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HISD Nutrition Services called a ‘role model’ after acing state review

TDA Lead Monitors Kelly Craig and Sally Page sign the preliminary review report to Nutrition Services Senior Administrator Audene Chung.

TDA Lead Monitors Kelly Craig and Sally Page sign the preliminary review report to Nutrition Services Senior Administrator Audene Chung.

HISD’s Nutrition Services Department was praised recently by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) as a “role model” for other districts after achieving a near-perfect score on an administrative review.

The preliminary review debriefing took place on Feb. 26, and Nutrition Services was praised for its efforts to provide HISD students with the best school meals in the state.

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