District Breakfast Consumption Skyrocketing

The Valley View Food Service Department opened Will County's largest lunch time eatery on Aug. 24.  Last year about 2.8 million lunches were served.  An additional 3,300 breakfasts were served every day. 

 A look at the first 10 days of this year indicates that breakfast for students is the big winner.  Breakfast participation has increased district wide by 35 percent in the past two years with our biggest increases (89 percent) coming from our middle and high schools.  

All students, whether they are bused or walk, can participate in breakfast.  Both high schools have cashless mobile kiosks that are located in the passing halls to make "grabbing breakfast" convenient and easy.   Most elementary schools offer Grab and Go Breakfast Sack options for students who arrive just before the start of school.   These Grab and Go breakfasts can be taken into the classroom and consumed.  

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day.  It provides much needed fuel for the body and mind and is available at no charge to students eligible for free meal benefits, 25 cents for those approved for reduced benefits, and a nominal charge of $1 or $1.25 for paying elementary and middle/high schools students respectively.

Students will see more whole grain offerings, and additional fruit and vegetables again this school year.  Federal regulations require that students be allowed to take two fruit and/or vegetable servings each day.  Valley View students can choose up to two fruit and two vegetable selections daily. 

We continue to work at encouraging students to consume additional fruits and vegetables.  Over the years we have seen an increase in fruit / vegetable consumption, and we expect to see this trend continue.

This year B.J. Ward and Tibbott Elementary Schools were awarded federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grants.   The two grants totaled $61,461.  Money will be used to provide students in these two schools fruit and vegetable snacks.  Food Service Personnel will prepare the snacks and deliver them to each classroom either in the morning or afternoon. 

Ward Students were recipients of the grant last year as well. 

Two of the goals of the grant are to introduce students to fruits and vegetables that they might not be familiar with, and to encourage them to choose fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks rather than food items that are high in calories and low in nutrients.  Already we can see that students at Ward are choosing more fresh fruits and vegetables as part of their school lunch than students in other schools.  This is exciting.

As part of the national School Lunch program the Valley View Early Childhood Center participates in the Special Milk Program which enables students to purchase and 8 oz carton of milk for about seven cents a carton.  We are pleased to be able to offer this important nutritious beverage to students at such a low cost.

Anyone seeking additional information about the District's Food Service Program is invited to visit the district's web site:  www.VVSD.org .  There you will find menus, ingredient lists for foods, nutrient information, employment opportunities, and many facts about the program.