Sponsored By :: IDEA Public Schools

austin-moms-blog-idea-public-schools

Last week marked National School Lunch Week! IDEA Public Schools in Austin believes having a healthy school lunch helps students power through their day—a sentiment most mothers couldn’t agree with more.

During National School Lunch Week, IDEA Austin celebrated its Healthy Kids Here initiative and mission to become America’s healthiest public charter school network.

Throughout the week, each campus debuted new healthy and tasty menu items like Bistek Tacos with Cilantro and Citrus Salad, and Kung Fu Panda Chicken and Noodles with Edamame Salad. Students voted for their favorite menu item at the end of the week, and it will then be added to the school menu. In addition, every IDEA Austin campus decorated their cafeterias with balloons, posters, and more to make lunchtime feel like a pep rally.

Local mom, Melissa Salinas, whose three children attend IDEA Allan Academy, says: “One of my favorite things about IDEA Austin is that they aim for their students not only to be prepared for college, but also to live happy and healthy lives. In fact, they see these outcomes as inextricably linked.”

idea-public-schools-1

IDEA’s Healthy Kids Here initiative was developed in 2014 to:

  1. Provide a healthy and active lifestyle for students
  2. Increase student access to healthy and nutritious foods, and
  3. Educate IDEA team members and parents on health, wellness, and nutrition

Over the past two years, IDEA has installed a salad bar in every campus cafeteria, and does not allow “junk food” in school. IDEA’s Child Nutrition Program Chef focuses on developing innovative and creative menu items that make food look and taste better for IDEA students without adding salts, fats, and sugars.

Additionally, IDEA Public Schools have farms and gardens at many of its campuses. These give students the invaluable experience of actually being able to see food grow, and serve as educational resources for teachers, students, and parents during the school day and after-school programming.

IDEA Rundberg and IDEA Allan have Garden Clubs for college prep students. The students develop raised beds on their campuses with the help of the school’s Garden Facilitator.

For the students, this is a new experience. They were excited about getting their hands dirty, about digging in and planting, and about tasting the produce as well! Though some have planted flowers before, all are new to vegetable gardening. Actually, many did not know what most plant-based foods looked like in the ground. Today the students can recognize a new range of vegetables and think of ways in which to incorporate these healthy and tasty options into their diets at home. The students in the garden club are also completing a curriculum throughout the year that will certify them as junior master gardeners.

idea-public-schools

By the 2017-2018 school year, IDEA’s Farm to School program will be introduced at IDEA Rundberg. The program, which is already implemented at four IDEA campuses, adopts the “Farm to Table” dining model and sends organic produce directly from the school garden to the cafeteria. Students are able to participate in the gardening process, learn about growing their own food, and then see their work used in the cafeteria. How neat is that?

“I believe it is important for our children to have knowledge of, and gain respect for where their food comes from,” Salinas says. “A generation of gratitude and passion for these natural resources are important to everyone’s future, especially the ones we are raising.”

Want to know more about IDEA Public Schools?

We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions! There’s lots of ways to get in touch. We look forward to talking to you.

Visit our website: www.ideapublicschools.org
Visit a school: http://ideapublicschools.org/contact-us
Call us: 1 (956) 377-8000
Email us: [email protected]
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Pinterest

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here