The New Face of School Lunch

The words “school lunch” may conjure up many images, but “local, grass-fed, all beef hotdog” probably isn’t among them. Nevertheless, it’s one of the new menu items signaling the many changes taking place with Minneapolis Public Schools’ (MPS) culinary program. Council Member Reich recently toured MPS’ Plymouth Avenue food facility with nutrition director Bertrand Weber to see firsthand the new plans for amping up the nutrition, flavor and appeal of school meals.

Swiss-born Weber, who was previously the nutrition director for the Hopkins School District and also spent 6 years as manager of the Whitney Hotel, described the history of MPS’ food program as it transitioned from a central commissary in the70s to a pre-wrapped, pre-assembled process over the past few decades. “We’re trying to reverse that trend and go back to freshly cooked food,” he explained. To that end he is working to source local partners, including Pepin Heights, Golden Plump, Great Northern Baking Company, Thousand Acres Beef and two First Ward businesses: Holy Land Deli and Cre8it, Inc.

Weber has developed a five year plan for completing the renovation of the school lunch program. By the end of this year, for example, most schools will offer students a salad bar. A key element of the success of the new program, however, resides in the amount of buy-in it gets from students and parents. “The longer they stay out of the program,” he explained, “the longer it’s going to take to improve it”. Increased student lunch purchases would mean more funds are available to dedicate toward improvements. Given the results seen from new menu tests last year, student participation may not be a problem; Washburn High School saw a 40% increase in kids eating school lunch on menu test days.

Weber’s Culinary & Nutrition Services team will be offering up a tasty celebration of these changes on Friday, September 21, 4-7 p.m. with a free Farm2School Community BBQ for all MPS families. The party will offer an opportunity to meet local farmers, try taste tests, view a compost demo and many more activities, while enjoying some great local food and recipes. The event will be at the Plymouth Avenue facility, 812 N. Plymouth Avenue. For questions or more information, contact farm2school@mpls.k12.mn.us.