chili beans

Today we served chili beans. To entice the students into trying this we sprinkle a bit of cheese and frito chips on top. Great northern, black beans and pinto beans are used as well as tomatoes, peppers and onions.
 If I can get a kid to eat a bean, a bit of cheese and a few chips are great bargaining tools.

caprese sandwich

Monday we will serve the first family group lunch. We will have a family group lunch every Monday.
The groups are comprised of students representing all grades.  So every Monday this same group will meet and eat together. I love family groups because it really gives the student a few more familiar faces here at school that are older or younger than they are. There are so many opportunities during the school year that a friendly face makes all of the difference.    It is heart warming to look out after school and see a middle school student voluntarily playing tether ball with a first grader. These connections can start with family groups.
 Lunch is comprised of a hot or cold specialty sandwich that changes weekly. Juice and fresh fruit as well as carrots and chips  are all offered. The first family group sandwich is caprese (mozzarella, fresh tomato, and basil).
Ask your child who their family group leader is and where they met for lunch. Hopefully they will make a new friend in family groups

Bean and cheese burrito

Bean and cheese burritos were the entree today. We hand roll these and this is what it looks like.

Chicken and rice

Chicken and rice day is popular.  I roast chicken breasts and add them to gravy. This is usually served over basmati rice, unless requested that they not touch each other. This is a common request that we try accommodate.  Curried vegetables are offered as a vegetable side. This way vegetarians may be served a delicious lunch as well.

cheese lasagna

Today we served lasagna, we make it ourselves and it is delicious.  The students were extra hungry today as they usually are after a long break.

Cheese enchilda

Thursday we served cheese enchiladas. The tray above shows the plain version. Red or green sauce is offered but most students do not like sauce on these.  Cottage cheese and sour cream (low fat versions)
are blended with real cheddar cheese to make these.  They are delicious and popular.

Garlic spaghetti

Today we served garlic spaghetti.   New students usually look for the sauce, but this is pasta with no sauce.   The ingredients include garlic,  parsley and parmesan cheese all tossed together.  I am really trying to get the students to at least try the vegetable daily.  Usually if they eat it at home they are open to trying it at school.  Peaches from the farmers market were a big hit at the fruit bar. They are perfect.

tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich

Right in time with the weather change is our first soup day. This is a delicious and simple soup and it is paired perfectly with a grilled cheddar cheese sandwich.  Yum.

sloppy joes

Friday we served sloppy joe sandwiches and some students were baffled as to what they were.
We were thrilled to tell them that it was just a hamburger sandwich.
What they don't know is that these sandwiches are full of celery and green peppers and onions.

Some students were big fans of the sloppy joe.

Baked potato bar

Today we served baked potatoes. The students could choose a regular potato or a yam. The toppings were mushrooms, sauteed onions, steamed broccoli or cheese sauce. The fruit and salad bars were busy today. Lots of farm fresh produce.