APS Cafeterias No Longer Serve Fried Food

In 2009, APS began disconnecting fryers in all cafeterias. Every year since then, a dedicated team of chefs, nutritionists and wellness professionals has collaborated on ways to serve healthy – and tasty – meals for student success. For example, although our schools no longer serve Southern fried chicken, they serve Southern baked chicken or a crispy chicken wrap that is also baked. These dishes are seasoned with rosemary and other savory herbs that are more healthy than they are salty.

Our school cafeterias also serve locally grown produce, such as strawberries, peaches, sweet potatoes, carrots and kale. All schools offer two fruit choices and two vegetable choices to students every day. Furthermore, every cafeteria has a water cooler with chilled water provided to students at no cost.

Recently, the district’s nutrition program experienced another enhancement. APS was chosen to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Option program, allowing 58 APS sites to offer breakfast, lunch and an afterschool snack to every student at no charge and with no meal application required.

Annually, APS serves approximately 6 million lunch meals and 3.7 million breakfast meals to students. Research shows that children whose nutritional needs are met have fewer attendance and discipline problems and are more attentive in class.