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Food & Nutrition Services Department receives Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition

Food & Nutrition Services Department receives Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition

Colonial School District’s Food and Nutrition Services Department has received a Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Recognition award for improving the nutritional quality of school meals through scratch-made menu items.

The Department has earned honors in the Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals category for incorporating new menu items that are prepared from scratch and use local ingredients or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) foods. The District had to submit three examples of such items to be considered for the award. The meals included:

  • House-made Adobo chicken - Tender, slow-braised chicken thighs (from locally raised chicken) simmered in a rich, savory blend of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and spices, creating a taste of traditional Filipino comfort food. 

  • Chicken enchilada nachos - Crispy tortilla chips topped with chicken, smothered in a combination of zesty Mexican-inspired red sauce and house made cheese sauce, including black beans and fire roasted peppers.

  • Holiday hummus duo bistro box - Classic hummus served with pita and fresh vegetables for dipping alongside festive gingerbread hummus paired with fresh locally grown fruit for dipping.

The first two menu items were served at Colonial Middle School and Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, while the third item was served at all elementary schools last winter. The Food & Nutrition Services Department has also made an effort to focus on making their own cheese, spaghetti, and tzatziki sauces to go along with various lunch items. 

“It is important for students to have access to healthy food that also tastes good and is representative of different cuisines. For this to happen, a school district has to have staff members who are invested in being creative in the kitchen, and we are fortunate to have such employees here at Colonial,” said Lori McCoy, Director of the Food & Nutrition Services Department. “We believe it is important that our menus continue to evolve, so that students keep coming back for meals that are yummy and nutritious, and give them the energy they need during the school day and beyond.”

As a result of winning this national award, the District will get to send three people to attend the Health Meals Fall 2024 Summit in Las Vegas and will receive national recognition by the USDA and Action for Healthy Kids. 

“We congratulate Colonial School District on this important achievement,” said Rob Bisceglie, Executive Officer and President for Action for Healthy Kids. “The HMI Recognition Awards are an opportunity to showcase innovative school nutrition practices that provide children with access to nutritious school meals.”

This is the second accolade that the Food & Nutrition Services Department has received in the 2024-25 school year. The state also recognized the Department in September for increasing the number of students taking part in the universal free breakfast program. Members of Colonial School District’s Food & Nutrition Services Department attended a reception at the Governor’s Residence to be commended for being named Governor’s Breakfast Champion.

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