After two decades of outsourcing its food services, Atlanta Public School (APS) brought its nutrition services in-house for the 2024-2025 school year. This transition, championed by the Department of Nutrition Services, has resulted in fresher, healthier meals for students while giving the district complete control over ingredient sourcing, menu options, and service quality.
Extensive training was key to the smooth transition behind the scenes. In July 2024, over 400 nutrition employees participated in training sessions led by the district’s HR department and Nutrition Services. The New Employee Orientation (N.E.O.) and Orientation for Nutrition Employees (O.N.E.) sessions were held over four days each, ensuring that staff were well-prepared to deliver high-quality meals.
New APS Nutrition Services employees during day three of their July training session. Photo credit: Atlanta Public Schools Nutrition Services ©
APS Senior Executive Director of Nutrition Services Eric Bankhead expressed his excitement about the early successes.
“I would say it’s going really well,” Bankhead said. “We’ve been receiving a lot of feedback since day one—parents reaching out through the APS Let’s Talk platform, emails, and even text messages. They’re telling us their kids are enjoying the food, and some students are coming home asking for seconds.”
Parent Tiffany Tolbert, who has two daughters attending APS schools, used the Let’s Talk platform to praise the Nutrition Services staff for the new menu.
“I have a daughter at Morningside Elementary School and a daughter at Howard Middle School, and both have come home from school raving about the new meal options,” Tolbert said. “The dumplings and lo mein were a huge hit with the girls. Thank you for making such wonderful changes.”
With this glowing feedback, the numbers speak for themselves. In the first two weeks of the school year, the district saw an average of 11,940 students eating breakfast daily, an increase of 259 meals per day compared to last year. Lunch participation also surged, with an average of 20,608 lunches served daily—1,218 more meals than the previous year.
Members of the APS Chew Crew focus group. Photo credit: Atlanta Public Schools Nutrition Services ©
Alongside the shift to in-house services, APS expanded its participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. Seven additional schools, including Bolton Elementary School, Burgess-Peterson Elementary School, Garden Hills Elementary School, Parkside Elementary School, Toomer Elementary School, Maynard H. Jackson High School, and Wesley International, joined the program, bringing the district-wide total to 59 schools. The CEP program allows high-poverty schools to offer complimentary breakfast and lunch to all students.
A student focus group, the Chew Crew, helped select menu items and was influential in choosing current items on this year’s menu. In addition, MealViewer, a platform that allows students and parents to view menus, nutritional facts, and allergen information, was introduced.
“Parents can set up a parent account and look at their student’s school, set up any allergen alerts, favorite the items, and rate them within the app,” APS Nutrition Services Marketing and Communications Specialist Cherie Moore said.
Fickett Elementary School students working in their school garden on the second day of school. Photo credit: Atlanta Public Schools ©
With the in-house shift, Nutrition Services focused on sourcing fresh produce. Over 41 schools now have thriving gardens, and 29 participate in the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program. The district also secured funding through the Local Food for Schools initiative, allowing it to increase its purchase of local produce.
This commitment to freshness is reflected in students’ meals, with school-grown vegetables and locally sourced produce regularly featured on menus.
“We’re working hard to ensure our meals are not only nutritious but also taste good and appeal to students and staff alike,” Bankhead said.
The Nutrition Services staff have implemented several avenues for feedback for continuous improvement. In August, 35,831 responses were collected through the Viewpoint survey platform. Students and staff can also rate meals and provide input through kiosks in cafeterias, the Let’s Talk platform on the APS district website, and Talk Back Thursdays.
Parents and students can join MealViewer and see what’s being served at their school this year. Photo credit: Atlanta Public Schools ©
Students have several initiatives to look forward to in the coming months, with its after-school meal and A la Carte programs launching this month. The after-school initiative will offer snacks and full meals for students participating in enrichment programs, ensuring they stay nourished until they return home.
“Students get to have another meal, whether it’s just a small snack to take them through that program until they get home, or they have a full-blown supper meal that’s about the size of a lunch meal before they go home,” Bankhead said.
The A la Carte program will allow students to purchase additional snacks like chips, cookies, and juice, providing more flexibility and choice during lunch.
“Some parents send chips with their kids. Now they can get them in the lunch line. It’s just another arm of our program that offers snacks that kids can buy so that mom or dad don’t have to worry about sending it with their kid,” Bankhead said.
Looking further into the year, Nutrition Services plans to host a Student Wellness Ambassador event, a Student Chef Competition, and the popular White Tablecloth Series, which will allow students to enjoy restaurant-quality meals in their cafeterias.
With promising early results, increased student participation, and a focus on fresh, nutritious food, APS’s decision to provide nutrition services in-house has proven successful.
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