Hello Ladies. Hot lunch is a hot topic in our school. I'm looking for recommendations for hot lunch providers.
My daughter brings a lunch more often than not. We would take hot lunch more if it was better food. For example, one day last week the hot lunch served was a soft prezel with cheese dip and fruit. I don't feel ball park food provides enough "brain power" nutrition to get kids through the day. We've had a few other mishaps with this food service company- same day changes, etc.
Is anyone happy with their hot lunch provider? Our school has contracts out for hot lunch. I would love to pass on some good recommendations to our board.
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for the recommendations! For primary & elementary there is only one meal option... Middle school has several.
I was informed yesterday - in order to receive money from the State (we're in Illinois) the district has to take the lowest bidder for food service. It doesn't matter how many complaints there are. Lowest bidder wins. If we privatize or don't select the lowest bidder, we don't get state funds for the free & reduce kids.
This is just another reason private school would have been a better choice.
Yes, I am a Registered Dietitian and work for Quality Catering for Kids, Inc, a hot lunch provider that services Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Our mission is to provide high quality, nutritious meals that kids love and they do!!
My mum is the head cook in the Rush City, MN school district. At the elementary and at the high school they prepare both breakfast and lunch for the students. For breakfast the students can choose between something cold like cereal or donuts, or something warm like a bagel or pop tarts. For lunch there are two different meals the students can choose from and in the high school alla cart is always an option (Alla cart contains the more ball park type foods like cheese burgers, corn dogs, and nachos with cheese). The two meals the students can choose from are more than enough keep the students "full and focused" for the rest of the day.
I think the best option is to try and convince your board to hire cooks to prepare meals for the students.
our school district uses aramark. But I wanted to mention that the school districts don't usually only serve 1 meal. Yes they offer hot pretzels with cheese as one option. but also usually some sort of "real meal" chicken w/ vegetable and rice or meat loaf and potato etc and also in addition to that there is always a sandwich of some sort, ham or turkey etc. fresh fruit is also always offered. This is my district I am talking about. You should be able to view a monthly menu. If its not being sent home to you call and ask the school for it they are required to provide it. Good luck
The school districts around here (Ashtabula County, northeastern Ohio) hire cooks and make the meals themselves. All meals are usually cooked in one of the schools, and food is trucked to the schools where they don't do the cooking. That's one option if you don't get any good providers.
K. Z.
In my school district the kids have a couple of choices each day. I think that is great to have choices but the kids can choose pizza almost every day. When you have the choice of pizza, turkey sandwich or mystery meat and gravy they kid will most likey always choose pizza.
Good luck getting good school lunches
My son's school uses Chartwells, as do many schools in my area. The food is pretty good and they get a fruit, veggie, entree, milk, and side dish every day.
