Schools

Back to School, Out to Lunch

As students return from summer vacation, Corrina Pysa takes a look at how Dining Services readies special menus to keep their hunger at bay.

Students all across town have geared up to head back-to-school with new duds, bags and books; schools have been prepping for their return as well.  For Dining Services, in turn, fueling the growing minds and bodies of Wilton's students is a top priority when putting together the menu that will jump-start the 2009/2010 academic year.

"We start working on the menu three weeks before the month starts," said Brian Reynolds, Director of Dining Services.  "This year, we have more options as far as offering locally grown foods, incorporating foods from the school garden."

With the High School renovations done, on the outside at least, Reynolds is excited to have the new garden built right in front of the school.

For those with special dietary needs, Dining Services will offer gluten-free options, as well as soy milk for lactose intolerant students.  As always, parents can rest assured knowing that no nuts whatsoever are used in the district.

While the K-5 elementary menu provides more standard fare: beef tacos one day, chicken nuggets the next (plus the daily alternate options of a sandwich or "Dairy/Bagel Fun Lunch"), choices abound at Middlebrook and the High School, where menu items are cycled and multiple food items are offered during every lunch period. 

"At the high school and Middlebrook, we listen to what the kids have to say, through their comments and student surveys," Reynolds explained.  "That's how we change the menu."

Grades K-8 follow state guidelines, but the High School is not on the national lunch program, giving it more freedom and the opportunity to sell more items through the school store and culinary department.

Christine Gehrlein, a sophomore at WHS, was very pleased with the school's offerings.  "I buy food every day at school.  I enjoy the food... it's always fresh and they always have something new."

Despite all the tempting choices, hard economic times mean cut-backs for everyone, which could amount to more students brown-bagging it instead of forking over cash in the cafeteria.  It remains to be seen how this will play out.

"It's still too early to tell," Reynolds said.  "It normally takes about two weeks for everything to settle down.  Then we should have a better idea."

Lunch costs $2.65 at all of Wilton's elementary schools, and includes fruit and a choice of low-fat, skim or low-fat chocolate milk.  At Middlebrook and Wilton High School, the price for lunch is $3.00 and also includes fruit and a choice of milk.

Considering the range of choices, and even in a tough economy, those prices still seem like a bargain.

Elementary schools menu: http://www.wilton.k12.ct.us/district/reports/Chartwells/200908_ElemMenu.pdf
Middlebrook menu: http://www.wilton.k12.ct.us/mb/frames/students-frame.htm
Wilton HS menu: http://www.wilton.k12.ct.us/whs/chartwells/menu.pdf

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