Learning Lunch gives the scoop on school meals

Lincoln Public Schools Director of Nutrition Services Edith Zumwalt has witnessed plenty of change during her 27 years with the district: An increased emphasis on serving locally grown fruits and vegetables; the use of technology to communicate school menu options; a growing number of specialized meals catering to dietary restrictions; and certainly the expanding maze of federal regulations she navigates when planning school meals.

Zumwalt spoke about these myriad changes on Tuesday during the third Lincoln Public Schools Learning Lunch of the 2017-18 season. Her presentation was titled “School Meals: So Much More than Chili and Cinnamon Rolls,” delivered to an audience in the Board Room at the LPS District Office.

One thing that hasn’t changed, Zumwalt noted, is the unpredictability of what students like to eat. She was confident that ranch-flavored fish sticks would be a hit - nope. Veggie lasagna - no. But anything involving breaded chicken? Yes.

“You live and you learn,” she said, adding that popcorn chicken is currently the district’s most popular entree.

Zumwalt also offered an overview of the size and scope of the LPS Nutrition Services Department and its mission to provide “enticing, appetizing and nutritious meals that enhance our students' ability to excel in the classroom and assist in establishing lifelong healthy eating habits.”

Some numbers to chew on:

• 26,800 lunches served daily - 4.645 million annually
• 7,800 breakfasts served daily - 1.3 million annually
• 26 customized diets available to students with special dietary needs, including peanut-free, lactose-free and gluten-free
• 15,000 square feet, which is the size of the school district’s freezer and cooler facility
• 18,000, which is the number of students who participate in the federal free or reduced lunch program
• 29, the number of schools that participate in a grant-funded program that supplies students fresh fruit and vegetables as snacks
• $21.355 million, which is the department’s annual budget. Nutrition Services is self-sustaining, meaning it receives no money from the LPS General Fund.

Besides Zumwalt’s presentation, Tuesday’s Learning Lunch attendees also were treated to free chili and cinnamon rolls.

LPS Learning Lunches, open to the Lincoln community, are generally held on the last Tuesday of the month in the Board Room at LPS District Office, 5905 O St. Doors to the Board Room open at noon, the program begins at 12:15 p.m., questions-and-answers happen at 12:45 p.m. Please bring your own lunch – we’ll provide dessert.

The rest of the 2017-18 season:

• Wednesday, Nov. 29: Social Emotional Learning: What is it and what does it look like at LPS, Carrie Erks, LPS School Social Worker.  
• Tuesday, Dec. 19:  Restoring Calm: LPS Response to Crisis, Brenda Leggiadro, LPS supervisor for Counselors and Social Workers; and Ursula Vernon-Hansen, facilitator, LPS Crisis Response Team.
• Tuesday, Jan. 23: Success with our Scholars, featuring LPS students and Pete Ferguson, coordinator, LPS Youth Development Team.
• Tuesday, Feb. 27: Kids vs. adults in LPS Spelling Bee, LPS Spelling Bee champions compete with LPS employees, Mindy Murphy, curriculum specialist, Secondary English Language Arts.
• Tuesday, March 27: Developing Young Men and Women, featuring Huntington Elementary School children and Rik Devney, Huntington principal.
• Tuesday, April 24: A Great Year of Achievement, highlighting LPS special education programs at Sherrill, Nuernberger and Yankee Hill Education Centers – Jane Stavem, associate superintendent of Instruction at LPS.
• Tuesday, May 15: Making Music, UKE can do it!  Come try your musical talents with ukuleles, Lance Nielsen, curriculum specialist for Music at LPS.

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