On April 6, 2017, parents of Broward County Public School students participated in the School District’s first annual Parent Food Show at Riverglades Elementary School in Parkland, Florida.
Parents gathered from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. where they could taste current menu items and ask questions. District Food and Nutrition Services administrators were present at each station to explain each item and its nutritional benefits.
“We have selected and presented a variety of food items, including some that are gluten free, vegan and vegetarian. We’re excited to offer these items on the cafeteria menu and love interaction and feedback from parents,” said Darlene Moppert, MS, RD, program manager and licensed nutritionist with the BCPS Food & Nutrition Services.
Parents were also treated to a cooking demonstration by Celebrity Chef Rudy Poindexter of the Food Network’s “Chopped” fame, who demonstrated healthy and fun recipes, stressing that food needs to look enticing so the students will try it. Chef Rudy also shared his “try it once rule” explaining that students need to try everything at least once, so they experience different types of cuisine and incorporate a healthy and diverse diet into their routines.
Breakfast and lunch items sampled included Chilled Pineapple, Yogurt Parfaits, Asian Kale Chicken Salad, Beef Nachos, Farm Fresh Green Beans, Mexican Pizza, Fish Nuggets, Fruitable juice drinks and Empanadas among many other items, all with a healthy twist.
The USDA regulates what is served in schools, mandating the offering of appropriate servings of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and high quality proteins. Vendors provide the latest new products and BCPS registered dietitians review the nutritional stats for the products and new recipes.
Broward County Schools Food and Nutrition Services encourages students to “Power Up!” with healthy and nutritious meals during the school day. The Broward County School District alone serves nearly 150,000 school lunches every day.
ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth largest school district in the nation and the second largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has over 271,000 students and approximately 175,000 adult students in 236 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 101 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 208 different countries and 181 different languages. To learn more, visit browardschools.com. Follow BCPS on Twitter @browardschools and Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools, anddownload the free BCPS mobile app.
