FPS nutrition recognized by USDA, KCS
Farragut Primary School’s Healthier U.S. School Challenge bronze award drew top nutrition officials from United States Department of Agriculture and Knox County Schools Friday morning, May 10. From left are Donna Harrison, FPS food services manager; Amber Anderson, school area leader in KCS nutrition office; Wanda McCown, senior field manager, KCS nutrition office; Jonathan “Jon” Dickl, KCS director of school nutrition; Gina Byrd, FPS principal, and Tim Mote, USDA Southeast Region program specialist.
Roughly spending $1.35 to $1.45 million more on fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains for Knox County Schools students in 2012-13 school year versus 2009-10 and before, “We serve about 55 percent more fresh fruits and vegetables this year, that are taken by the students, than what we had served in previous years.”
That’s according to Jonathan “Jon” Dickl, KCS director of school nutrition for Knox County Schools, about Federal mandates where canned and frozen foods must be replaced with fresh.
Dickl, along with Tim Mote, United States Department of Agriculture Southeast Region program specialist, recognized Farragut Primary School as one of only four K-12 Knox County schools “making the commitment to making sure” that all KCS exercise and nutrition objectives were met.
Additional costs for fresh, healthy foods — financially independent from KCS budget and paid through student lunch fees and federal reimbursements — is worth it according to Dickl, especially given how healthier school eating habits are influencing family eating habits.
About principal Gina Byrd and her cafeteria staff, led by food services manager Donna Harrison, “They have shown leadership in nutrition education, physical education, physical activity, the school lunch menus,” said Dickl following a ceremony Friday morning, May 10, where he and Mote honored FPS for its bronze award in USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service’s Healthiest U.S. Schools Challenge. read more
