APS is planning to “kick it up a notch” in the school lunchroom on the first day of school.
Students at four schools will find extra treats in the cafeteria when they return on Monday, August 4.
The Southeast United Dairy Industry Association will be on hand to provide students at Bolton Academy with nutritional information and recipes for a healthy lifestyle. Breakfast giveaways include a variety of Borden milk and yogurt.
There will be a selection of local fresh fruit and vegetables for the children at Young Middle School. Members of Wholesome Wave, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase access to locally grown food, will provide information on its programs and partnerships with farmers markets.
Fresh produce distributor FreshPoint will offer a lunch tasting of fresh fruits and vegetables at Sutton Middle School and Maynard Jackson High School students will be able to sample a variety of flatbreads from The Fathers Table Bread Company. Their breads are baked from scratch using farm fresh eggs. Their whole grain products also contain zero grams tans fat per serving and are free of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils.
There is much more cooking in APS cafeterias for the 2014-2015 school year.
- Every fourth Tuesday of the month will be ‘Regional Taste Tuesday’ in APS cafeterias. The expanded international offerings include chicken parmesan, jambalaya, jerk chicken, red beans and rice as well as tropical stir fry.
- More schools will offer free breakfast, lunch and a snack to students each day as part of the Community Eligibility Provision (formerly called Community Eligibility Option program). Students at the 57 participating schools are automatically eligible and do not need to complete a meal application.
- Families who wish to apply for free and reduced meals can now apply online. The new online application system is now up and running.
- 36 APS elementary schools have been awarded a USDA federal funded grant to provide a wide-range of fresh fruit and vegetable snacks not currently being served in APS cafeterias.
- Atlanta Public Schools are peanut free. Peanut butter or any products containing peanuts are no longer served in APS cafeterias.
- Menus indicate gluten-free (GF) & locally grown (LG) food options and there is a daily salad bowl item as well.
- Health scores for each school cafeteria are now posted on the APS main page.
The August menu and new meal prices are now posted online. Please visit atlantapublicschools.us/nutrition for more information.
