Austin News

Austin ISD is making strides to change perceptions and memories of school lunches with multiple programs that work by expanding food access, serving healthy, tasty meals, and providing learning opportunities about nutrition, cultural foodways, and the food system.

The district has made access to healthy food a high priority after realizing that more than two-thirds of AISD’s 75,000 students may fall into the category of economically disadvantaged. The district aims to remind those children, through a variety of food service programs, that they belong to a community and are valued.

AISD offers multiple foodservice options for students. They are piloting a family-style dining experience at the elementary levels in  their cafes and classrooms. The hope is that the family-style dining will create an inviting environment where students will build independents and connections while they help set the table, use reusable plates and cutlery, and serve themselves the foods of their choice, sharing with classmates at the same time. 

Food trucks, mini markets and vending machines are other options. The district has several mobile food trucks: Nacho Average and Food 4 Thought rotate among the high schools in the district, although they visit other schools upon request. The food trucks offer a healthy, safe alternative to leaving campus for lunch, and students use their meal accounts just as they would in the district’s cafes.  

High school students also have access to mini markets and vending machines that are stocked with meals that aren’t typically featured in the cafes, as well as fresh fruits, vegetables and milk. The meals are prepared and packaged in the school kitchens and served in packaging that students might associate with food outside the school environment.

The schools also focus on offering locally sourced fresh fruits and vegetables, and the district has found that students are more likely to eat them.  Menus also include scratch-prepared dishes regularly. That method allows the district to offer clean label foods that is less processed and to reduce their kitchen waste at the same time. Clean label foods are those that don’t have ingredients not on the unwanted list for the Ingredient Guide for Better School Food Purchasing, by School Focus.