It’s National School Lunch Week!

Lafayette Parish School System celebrates healthy school lunches and lifestyles as
National School Lunch Week aims to get kids excited about healthy foods and exercise.

National School Lunch Week  runs from October 13-17 and, the theme “Get in the Game with School Lunch” features events and activities that promote the importance of balancing healthy eating with physical activity and exercise.

The week emphasized the healthy foods that are offered daily at Lafayette Parish School System schools. National School Lunch Week stickers will be given to each elementary student who grabs a tray. Students who eat school lunch will also be eligible to win prizes geared towards physical activity such as footballs, Frisbees, and jump ropes!
“School lunches are healthier than ever, with more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, and less fat and sodium” said Renee Sherville, MS, RD, LDN, Director of Child Nutrition Services. “National School Lunch Week is the perfect time to celebrate all of the healthy options we’re serving every day in Lafayette Parish schools.”

The federally-funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced, healthy meals to 30 million students every day. The program, which has been serving the nation’s children for over 60 years, requires school meals to meet federal nutrition standards like offering fruits and vegetables every day, serving whole-grain rich foods, and limiting fat, calories, and sodium. School lunches are exposing students to different and nutritious foods such as brown rice, mustard greens, and fresh cantaloupe on a daily basis.

I remember our school lunches at Henry High School in Vermilion Parish.  The bread that was made from scratch was awesome, as was the gumbo, chili and everyone's greasy favorite: pizza!!

For more information about current, much-healthier-than-when-I-was-in-school meals, visit www.lpssonline.com.  You can also contact the Lafayette Parish School System
Child Nutrition Services at 101 Evans Lane, Lafayette, LA 70506 or call 337-521-7370.