Category Archives: Nutrition Services

First Class Breakfast program expanding to high schools

Food Research and Action Center awards Nutrition Services $64,000 grant

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) has awarded HISD’s Nutrition Services department $64,000 to expand the First Class Breakfast program in HISD high schools. The grant will ensure that students at eight high schools get a nutritious, free breakfast every school day.

A 2012 HISD study reported better academic performance, behavior, and attendance in schools that served breakfast. Nutrition Services Director of Operations Odell Warren explained how beneficial the program is to helping students stay focused in class.

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Nutrition Services adds more fresh fruits and vegetables to menu

Fresh fruit and vegetables story

DeChaumes Elementary School students enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables at lunch.

USDA’s MyPlate recommends children eat three and a half cups of fruits and vegetables daily, and the fresher they are, the more nutrients they contain. HISD Nutrition Services is offering healthier choices for students by adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to school menus.

“We want to offer more varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables to get the students excited about eating healthy foods at school,” said HISD Dietitian Amanda Oceguera. “It was rewarding to see the students’ positive reactions to our Texas-grown watermelon, and we plan to continue offering more items like it.”

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HISD celebrates National School Lunch Week with middle school nutrition, cooking lessons

Houston Independent School District students are getting the chance to try Texas-grown squash and watermelon and make their own sweet potato muffins as part of National School Lunch Week.

National School Lunch Week was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a way to recognize the federally-funded National School Lunch Program, which sets guidelines to ensure students have access to nutritionally-balanced, healthy meals every day.

Nutrition Services is celebrating the week by introducing the Nutrition Services Culinary Team, a group that will provide nutrition education classes and cooking demonstrations to middle school students on Thursday and Friday. Students will learn how to make sweet potato muffins during the classes. Continue reading →

Blueberry boot camp may lead to new cafeteria choices

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Future HISD students could be seeing more dishes incorporating blueberries in their school cafeteria menus, after HISD Nutrition Services Dietitian Kasandra Davis attended a summer blueberry boot camp in Napa Valley, California.

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council held the conference at the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone campus July 18–20, and only 16 school districts were invited to participate.

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HISD Dietitians Attend National Conference

Attendees share best practices for schools’ meal program

Dietitians and school-district representatives from around the U.S. attended the 69th Annual National Conference of the School Nutrition Association in Salt Lake City, Utah. HISD Dietitian Amanda Oceguera, along with several Nutrition Services employees, represented the district. The conference covered many aspects of school food services, from vendors to school menus to meal recipes.

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Nutrition Services offers up new menu options for 2015-2016 school year

HISD Nutrition Services dietitians and chefs worked over the summer to perfect the new recipes to provide their primary customers with healthy and delicious meals.

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HISD receives Platinum Pear award from Dept. of Agriculture

(Houston Independent School District)

Dietitian Manager Amanda Oceguera accepts a Platinum Pear award for Nutrition Services’ efforts to serve locally-sourced foods.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) honored HISD Nutrition Services this year with its Platinum Pear Award.

TDA challenged Texas schools to include three local products on their menus during the 2015 School Breakfast Week. Nutrition Services met the challenge by serving locally sourced cinnamon toast, low-fat milk, and apple juice March 2–6.

Nutrition Services Senior Administrator Audene Chung stated that one of the department’s goals is to support Texas farmers. “Our department buys locally-sourced products to bring the freshest products to our students,” she said.

TDA’s Growing Healthy Texans awards were distributed during the Texas Association for School Nutrition’s annual conference in Grapevine, Texas.

Employees honored for promoting a culture of Service Excellence in HISD

In a special luncheon Tuesday, nine employees from across different Business Operations departments were honored for their work in promoting a culture of Service Excellence within HISD.

The event follows a year of trainings held by the nine employees to introduce the mission and standards of Service Excellence to their fellow employees. In all, more than 5,270 people have been trained in Service Excellence since the initiative launched in April.

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Westside HS wins national ‘Cooking Up Change’ competition

Westside HS students Jalien Noel, Jose Acosta, and Briseida Salas hoist the trophy in victory with Chef Reggie Martin and Ray Danilowicz

Westside HS students Jalien Noel, Jose Acosta, and Briseida Salas hoist the trophy in victory with Chef Reggie Martin and Ray Danilowicz

When the heat was turned up, the Westside High School’s Culinary Arts Program team stayed cool under pressure, taking home first place at the Cooking Up Change National Finals on Monday in Washington, D.C.

Students Jose Acosta, Jalien Noel, and Briseida Salas, working under the direction of Westside Chef Reggie Martin, wowed the judges with a menu that highlighted different flavors from the Bayou City: cowboy Cajun chicken lollipop, twisted Texas cabbage and collard greens, and a pineapple tart.

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Service Excellence Employees of the Month for June honored

Five HISD employees were recognized as June’s Employee of the month for Service Excellence at Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center on Tuesday morning during a special breakfast with Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla. Continue reading →