How Are Those Italian Dunkers? Taste Test for Woodbury’s Red Rock Elementary

Students gave their feedback on whole-grain dunkers Wednesday as the district continues to implement changes associated with new federal guidelines for school lunches.

As South Washington County Schools carries out changes to adhere to new federal guidelines for school lunches, students at Red Rock Elementary on Wednesday got to give their feedback on new whole-grain Italian dunkers. Schwan’s brought its pizza boats to the Woodbury school, and other taste testing sessions will likely be held at other schools before a vendor is chosen, said Kristine Iturrino, cook manager at Red Rock. “They really had fun with it,” she said of the students, who for the most part liked the offering. “And they really appreciate that they have a say.” One hundred percent of grains served in District 833 will be whole grain by the 2014-15 school year. Some changes—which also put limits on salt and fat—have already been …

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Angela's Angle

Do You Want Peas With That?

Limiting starchy veggies in school lunches won’t help our youngsters stay fit.

Are kids eating too many peas at lunch? Not according to my friend, who spends her workday in an elementary school cafeteria. She’s a bit “steamed” over the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s desire to limit starchy vegetables like peas, potatoes, lima beans and corn in school lunches. This is the government’s latest strategy in the battle against childhood obesity and it seems to have rankled the ranks of some nutrition service employees. These lunch ladies are the people who see what kids actually eat and what they throw away. And guess what? It’s not starchy vegetables that the kiddos are eating too much of. The USDA’s move is silly. Kids aren’t getting fat from eating too many peas or any other vegetable. Like many adults, kids enjoy …

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