Schools offer healthy, inexpensive meals

With an increased emphasis on health and nutrition in the country, Maricopa’s Food Services department officials say they are working to make the school lunch just a sensible as the homemade sandwich.

Maricopa Unified School Distrtict’s Director of Food Service, Suzette Moe, recently compared a school lunch consisting of chicken nuggets to a bologna sandwich, chips and fruit drink during a school board meeting. According to the nutritional value presented, the chicken nugget meal had fewer calories.

Moe used the comparison to prove the point that school lunches are healthy and more parents should allow their students to buy them. On average, almost 5,000 students receive either breakfast, lunch or both at school every day. Moe said she hopes this number will drastically increase next year with the addition of three schools and the improved facilities at the high school.

Along with the health aspect of school lunches, Moe also discussed the low cost of meals as a benefit to buying lunch at school. Student lunches cost $1.25 per day at elementary schools, 75 cents less than the cost of lunch in the Kyrene and Chandler school districts. Moe said an increase might be necessary, however, with the added staff and equipment needed at the new schools.

“I might have to bring back a proposal for an increase to the board but I will make sure to keep the price as low as possible,” Moe said.

As for the business side of the food service department, Moe said the district is one of a few in the Valley that regularly finishes the year in the black. The department is responsible for purchasing all food and equipment for the district as well as paying for salaries and benefits of food-service employees.

One of the reasons Moe said the department has been so successful is her employees. Few people understand the amount of work the food service employees do to ensure every meal is healthy and nutritious, she said.

“I am very proud of the staff I have working with me,” Moe added.

To make school lunches better, Moe has worked with Maricopa High School to create a Wellness Committee made up of students who taste possible menu items, discuss their preferences and offer suggestions. Moe also holds wellness campaigns for district employees and meetings for parents to keep everyone informed on the food service at the schools.

“First and foremost, my priority is to provide healthy nutritious lunches for our students every day,” Moe said.

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