MISSION, TEXAS (October 18, 2024) - X marks the spot for healthy meals as Mission Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) celebrated National School Lunch Week October 14 – 18. The week-long celebration was themed “School Lunch Pirates: Find Your Treasure!” and highlights the importance of a healthy school lunch to student’s success both in and out of the classroom.
Research shows children are getting their healthiest meals at school. National School Lunch Week highlights the nutritious foods available daily at Mission CISD schools.
“School lunches offer students fruits and vegetables, whole grains and milk, and meet federal nutrition standards limiting fat, calories and sodium,” said Marcos Rodriguez, Child Nutrition Program Director. “National School Lunch Week (NSLW) helps us educate parents and students about all the wonderful benefits of our lunch program.”
Nutrition Starts with Education
To highlight this effort, Mission CISD has organized activities through the week for NSLW, giving students a fun yet meaningful way to participate.
One of these initiatives included Mission CISD’s Culinary Arts students from Veterans Memorial High School visiting the district’s Central Kitchen. As part of their practicum hours, the students spent time learning firsthand about food preparation, including cleaning beans to prepare fresh charro beans. This real-world experience connected their classroom learning to the district's mission of promoting healthy, nutritious meals.
Edna Alvarez Prado, Child Nutrition Program Coordinator, emphasized the educational component of the week, saying, "National School Lunch Week provided a unique opportunity for students to learn about the importance of nutrition in a way that’s both engaging and fun. It was exciting to see our Culinary Arts students gain practical experience while promoting the importance of healthy school meals."
Pirate-Themed Fun
Throughout the district, Child Nutrition staff fully embraced the pirate-themed festivities by dressing up in eye patches, pirate hats, and other fun costumes, bringing the “School Lunch Pirates” theme to life. This approach turned lunchtime into a fun learning experience, making the importance of balanced nutrition both memorable and entertaining for students across the district.
Fostering Peer Support for Healthy Eating Habits
As part of the NSLW celebrations, Mission CISD is actively participating in the Farm Fresh Challenge, which encourages schools to serve Texas-grown products. Students enjoyed locally sourced watermelon and Gala apples this past week, fostering conversations about the benefits of eating local produce.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) serves nearly 30 million children every school day, providing them with nutritious meals essential to their health and education. Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, National School Lunch Week continues to highlight the critical role of school meals inside and outside the classroom.
For more information about Mission CISD’s Child Nutrition Department, call (956) 323-3800 or visit https://missioncisdchildnutrition.com/.
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