In other words, food is offered and students choose what they want and serve themselves in a standard cafeteria line. Breakfast for all grades costs 60 cents, and there is a reduced price list for those who qualify. The prices haven t changed since 1991, which speaks well for our school system. Food service employees must complete 30 hours of continuing education each school year in areas of food safety and sanitation, nutrition for students and culinary techniques in quantity food preparation. Site managers, such as Brunson, have completed or are enrolled in community college courses in institutional food services.
Many managers hold associate degrees in food management.
The school district prepares more than 28,700 meals each school day in 33 kitchens. After tasting those delicious yeast rolls and peanut butter cookies, I know why our school system is so proud of its bakeries. In all honesty, they re better than the ones I bake in my own kitchen. To learn more about the school lunch program, I spoke with Kathy McGinn, a registered dietitian and director of Food and Nutrition Services for St. Lucie County. She was so interesting that I overstayed my time.