Tag 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 offers tips on how to maximize Halloween fun

Stevens Elementary School student Ke’Oshia Johnson picks up a treat during healthy Halloween class.

Stevens Elementary School student Ke’Oshia Johnson picks up a treat during healthy Halloween class.

Excited children in costumes will soon flood neighborhood sidewalks to perform their annual collection of Halloween treats. As plastic pumpkins fill with sugary sweets, parents may ask, “Is it possible to have a healthy Halloween?”

Nutrition Services Education Dietitian Jennifer Lengyel believes it is, through proper education. Lengyel has been teaching elementary school students how to become responsible trick-or-treaters and avoid the issues that come with overindulging.

“The goal is for students to have fun during Halloween, to learn moderation, and take care of their bodies,” Lengyel said. “Talking about how they feel when having too much candy is a better teaching tool than just telling them what not to do.” Continue reading →

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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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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Nutrition Services helps feed Houston’s hungry

Audene Chung and Amanda Oceguera listen to HISD’s Student Congress Representatives request to help less fortunate Houstonians.

HISD’s Audene Chung and Amanda Oceguera listen to Student Congress representatives’ request to help less fortunate Houstonians.

When Houston ISD’s Student Congress visited the district’s Nutrition Services production facility recently, a new partnership to help feed the hungry in Houston was born.

In May, the Student Congress lobbied Nutrition Services to make food donations to Second Servings, an organization that collects and donates leftover food. While Nutrition Services is unable to donate school lunches, it did find a way to make donations through its catering kitchen operations, and the district recently signed a charter to donate leftover food. Continue reading →

Business Operations announces ‘Service Excellence’ Employees of the Month

Five HISD Business Operations employees were celebrated as Employees of the Month for May during the department’s breakfast with HISD’s Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla on Tuesday.

(From left to right): Roy Giles, Pat Sykes, HISD Sr. Business Analyst Priscilla Martinez, Kelvin Bryan, and Eusebio Silver.

(From left to right): Roy Giles, Pat Sykes, HISD Sr. Business Analyst Priscilla Martinez, Kelvin Bryan, and Eusebio Silver.

Every month, five individuals from the areas of Transportation, Police, Nutrition Services, Construction and Facilities Services, and Business Assistance are selected to attend “Breakfast with Leo.” The event serves as a way to recognize district employees who go above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service.

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Nutrition Services honored with the No Kid Hungry Breakfast Champion Award

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HISD’s Nutrition Services Department was presented with the No Kid Hungry Breakfast Champion Award, sponsored by Share Our Strength during a pep rally event on Wednesday at Marshall Middle School. The department provides the First Class Breakfast program, offered in more than 240 locations districtwide.

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Top Business Operations employees enjoy ‘Breakfast with Leo’

As part of the Business Operations Team’s Service Excellence initiative, each of the five divisions designates an Employee of the Month to recognize outstanding performance and excellent customer service. This week, the five Employees of the Month for April had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast with HISD’s Chief Operating Officer, Leo Bobadilla.

(From left to right): Maria J. Smith, Kathy Sterbanz, Leo Bobadilla, Loretta Galaviz, Delia Garcia and Officer Rick Evans

(From left to right): Maria J. Smith, Kathy Sterbanz, Leo Bobadilla, Loretta Galaviz, Delia Garcia, and Officer Rick Evans.

“I really enjoy this event and being able to show my appreciation for such great work,” Bobadilla said.  “We have a great team, and the recognition is well-deserved.”

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Employees of the Month honored for ‘Service Excellence’

(From left to right): Abdul Ly, Tori Cortez, Leo Bobadilla, Nancy Ramon, Sgt. Juan Mellado and Cloria Witherspoon.

(From left to right): Abdoul Ly, Tori Cortez, Leo Bobadilla, Nancy Roman, Sgt. Juan Mellado and Cloria Witherspoon.

Five HISD employees were celebrated as March’s Employee of the month for Service Excellence at Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center on Tuesday morning during a special breakfast.

The event, hosted every month by HISD’s Chief Operating Officer Leo Bobadilla, recognizes district employees who go above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service in a safe, courteous, responsive and efficient manner. The group of employees were selected based off of the service philosophy: Continue reading →