Category Archives: Nutrition Services

Nutrition Services upgrades make online lunch account enrollment easier

School Cafe

Nutrition Services School Eligibility and Accountability department (SEA) improved two of its programs to increase satisfaction and participation. SEA digitized the Community Eligibility Provision program survey that provides more free lunches to HISD students. In addition, ParentOnline.net is now SchoolCafé.com, a software that allow parents to load funds into and manage their child’s meal account. SEA Manager Mark Allen believes these improvements will speed up the process for the back-to-school rush.

The SEA department is responsible for collecting data, and reporting it to the Texas Department of Agriculture. In February, TDA applauded Nutrition Services’ SEA team for having an excellent program that services students and their families.

HISD receiving $1.2 million for more fresh fruits and vegetables in schools 

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Nutrition Services was awarded $1.2 million from the Texas Department of Agriculture to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to more HISD students. This year, TDA selected two more HISD elementary schools to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, for a total of 39 schools in the district now included in the program.

FFVP helps Nutrition Services meet its goals of providing HISD students with more fresh fruits and vegetables and healthier food options in district schools. Nutrition Services Senior Operations Manager Becky Campbell said the grant gives school children the opportunity to taste products not regularly found on school menus.

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HISD chefs cook up new school menu items

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While school is out for the summer, HISD nutrition services chefs are busy in the test kitchen creating and sampling new menu items for the coming school year. And what our chefs have learned from the previous year is that our students want bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and culturally diverse food.

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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 →