Nutrition Services First Newsletter
A sneak peak inside the inner workings of a busy department
Around Our Schools: A Little Bit of Everything! 🍎
It's been a busy start to the school year! Between special events, new buildings, and feeding a whole lot of people, our Nutrition Services teams have had plenty going on. Here's a peek at what's been happening around our schools!
Feeding 700 Hungry Educators! Milford Nutrition Services kicked off the school year by preparing and serving lunch for 700 guests at Milford's Teacher Convocation. That's a lot of lunches!
Big Changes in Wyoming! Hilltop and Elm are currently operating out of local churches while their brand-new school buildings are under construction. Both schools are expected to move into their new spaces in fall 2027!
A New Home for Williamsburg Elementary! Construction is underway on Williamsburg Elementary's new building, with an anticipated opening in fall 2027. Exciting changes are ahead!
Breakfast with a Buddy! 🥞 Charles L. Seipelt hosted another special Breakfast with a Buddy event on September 24. A great way to bring students and their favorite people together over a delicious breakfast!
A Night to Remember! ⭐ Milford Nutrition Services had the pleasure of catering Night of the Stars, helping make the evening a little extra special.
Finneygate Fun! Another year of Finneygate is in the books! A big shoutout to Central Manager Marilyn and her crew for handling the catering and helping make the event a success!
Finneytown Secondary Is Getting Ready for a Fresh Start! The new building is expected to open in January 2027, and preparations are already underway. There's plenty to plan when it comes to getting a new kitchen up and running!
From catering large events to preparing for brand-new kitchens, our teams continue to stay busy both inside and outside the cafeteria. A big thank-you to everyone who helps make it all happen!
We Want to Hear from Our Students! 🎤
Our intern, Zoe (from UC), spent some time at Milford High School asking students what foods they'd like to see offered in the cafeteria. We're always looking for ways to improve our menus and get more students excited about school meals!
As a little thank-you, students who participated were entered into a raffle for a $10 Starbucks gift card or a $25 Fandango gift card.
A big thank-you to everyone who shared their thoughts! Your feedback helps us make our menus better.
Taste Testing: Students Have Their Say! 🍴
On September 22–23, we welcomed Tyson, Red Gold, and PLAYR1 to Milford High School and Madeira High School for two days of student taste testing!
Students had the chance to sample different food products and share their honest opinions about what they'd like to see on their school menus.
It's always fun to try something new, and even better when students get a voice in what ends up on their lunch trays!
Red Gold station at Milford High School
Playr1 station at Madeira High School
Tyson station at Madeira High School
🍂 Growing Something Good in Milford! 🌱
Last March, we dipped our toes into hydroponic gardening with just four growing units. This year, we're expanding in a big way! Our goal is to have 8 units at Milford Middle School and 8 at Milford High School.
And lettuce is just the beginning!
During the second half of the school year, we're hoping to get students more involved in the growing process and introduce microgreens into the mix. It's a great opportunity for students to see firsthand where their food comes from and be part of growing it.
So, what happens to all that lettuce?
Right now, the lettuce grown at Milford High School is being served on the school's salad bar. We're hoping to bring that same experience to Milford Middle School as the program expands.
A little fall update: 🍂
All four units at the high school are already up and growing! We're looking forward to getting the middle school units established later in the school year.
We're excited to see how this program continues to grow, especially as we find more ways to bring students into the process. Who knew a little lettuce could open the door to so many possibilities?
Breakfast with a Buddy at CLS! 🏈🥞
Breakfast is always better with a buddy!
Each month, students at CLS get to bring their favorite buddies to school for a special breakfast together. Jodi, our kitchen manager, makes sure each event has a little something extra, and this month's theme was all about FOOTBALL! 🏈
Guests enjoyed a delicious breakfast spread featuring scrambled eggs, freshly baked cinnamon rolls, pancakes, cottage cheese with tomato slices, fresh fruit salad, roasted potatoes, and a selection of coffee and juices.
A big shoutout to Jodi and Leslie (the central manager) for putting so much thought into these monthly breakfasts and making them special for students and their guests!
Mark your calendars! The next Breakfast with a Buddy is October 29th!
A Special Guest Was on the Prowl! 🦊
Look who stopped by Milford Schools!
Munch the Fox, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's Nutrition Department mascot, made a special visit to Pattison, Seipelt, and Milford Middle School!
Students were all smiles as they got the chance to meet Munch, say hello, and share a little excitement during their school day.
Thanks for stopping by, Munch! We hope you had a fox-tastic time! 🦊
Why Do Those Lunch Ladies (and Laddies!) Keep Pushing the Fruits and Veggies? 🍎🥦
Ever wonder why our cafeteria staff are so determined to get that apple, orange, or scoop of veggies onto your student's tray?
Believe it or not, there's a little more to it than making sure our students eat their greens!
First, we want our students to get the most bang for their buck!
Did you know that students can get a whole lot more than just a sandwich for their lunch money? Our complete school meals include an entrée, along with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and milk. Students can fill out their trays with the fruit and vegetable options we offer, making for a much more filling and balanced meal!
Here's where it gets interesting: Purchasing just an entrée and a milk separately costs the same as getting a complete school lunch! And when students grab multiple entrées instead of taking advantage of the sides, those additional purchases can add up quickly.
We want students leaving our cafeterias full, happy, and getting the best value for their money!
Now, here's where something called a "reimbursable meal" comes in.
At lunch, we offer five meal components: protein, grains, fruit, vegetables, and milk. Students don't have to take all five, but they must select at least three different components, including at least ½ cup of fruit or vegetables, for their lunch to qualify as a reimbursable meal.
Breakfast works a little differently. Students must select at least three food items, including ½ cup of fruit or vegetables.
So, why does this matter, especially for families receiving free or reduced-price meals?
Here's something many families may not realize: Free and reduced-price meal benefits apply to a complete, qualifying school meal, not individual items purchased separately.
If a student skips the required components, their food may need to be charged individually at à la carte prices instead of receiving their free or reduced-price meal benefit. That's something we certainly don't want families to encounter unexpectedly!
This is one of the biggest reasons our cafeteria staff encourage students to take their fruits and vegetables. We want every student to receive the full meal they're entitled to, enjoy a variety of foods, and leave the cafeteria satisfied.
And for students who want more than one entrée? Those additional entrées are typically charged separately, while many of the fruit and vegetable options are already included with their meal!
But wait, there's S'MORE! 🔥
Nutrition Services is funded a little differently than other school departments. Along with meal sales, we receive federal reimbursements for qualifying meals served to students. The number of reimbursable lunches we serve also helps determine the USDA Foods (commonly called commodities) available to our program in the following school year.
This funding helps us continue offering nutritious meals, a variety of choices, and affordable options for families.
So, the next time you hear one of our Lunch Ladies or Laddies say, "Don't forget your fruit or vegetable!" remember, we're not just trying to sneak something healthy onto the tray.
We're helping students get a balanced, filling meal, making sure families receive the full benefit of their school meal program, and getting the most out of everything our cafeterias have to offer!
After all, why settle for just a sandwich when there's so much more on the menu?
Coming Next Time: Show Me the Money!💰
We've got plenty more to share in our next edition! We'll be celebrating more birthdays, highlighting what's happening throughout our schools, and taking a little peek behind the cafeteria doors!
Coming next time: Show Me the Money! 💰 Ever wonder where school lunch money actually goes or why Nutrition Services has different funding rules than the rest of the school district? We'll break down where our funding comes from, how our program supports itself, and what we can (and can't!) spend those dollars on. We'll even clear up a few common misconceptions along the way!
Stay tuned — there's a lot more to school lunch than what's on the tray!