Switch to healthy, fresh foods a hit at Sacred Hearts school

Doug Erickson:

Two years ago, administrators at Sacred Hearts Catholic School noticed a sudden drop in the number of students buying hot lunches from the cafeteria.

They soon learned a boycott was under way, led by a group of seventh-graders and involving dozens of students.

"We weren't getting the nutrition we needed," said Kelly Brehmer, 13, an eighth-grader who took part in the boycott as a sixth-grader. The food wasn't healthy enough, she said, and the menus were too repetitious.

The student revolt led to sweeping changes. Made-from-scratch meals, using fresh vegetables grown locally, replaced much of the highly processed government food. An amped-up salad bar sprouted garbanzo beans, cabbage and pea pods. Sweet desserts faded to just a twice-a-month treat.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at November 11, 2012 2:47 AM
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