LPS grows healthy outcomes through Farm to School program

October 13, 2023

Lincoln Public Schools staff members are ensuring nutrition is at the top of the menu for district students every day.

They are accomplishing this goal by growing healthy connections with local farmers throughout the year. LPS provides a wide assortment of nourishing foods through the Farm to School program. 

The initiative is being highlighted during National Lunch Week Oct. 9-13, but it is a staple of every breakfast and lunch that students eat at school. School cafeterias feature a range of meat, whole-grain, dairy, poultry, fruit and vegetable products each day.

Students experienced one of those local connections Oct. 13 when they ate homemade meatloaf from Ashland-based Raikes Beef. Lincoln East students enjoyed their first taste of the company’s American Wagyu beef six weeks ago, and they received their second opportunity with their meatloaf dishes.

Susan Zander and Ramiza Mujkic are leading the healthy-eating effort at Lincoln East. They were impressed with the Farm to School product and said students also gave positive reviews.

“I was so excited when I saw this meat come in,” Mujkic said. “You can tell a difference between regular beef and this kind of beef. There’s a different texture and smell to it, and it’s really easy to be able to cook it. From the first moment you open the packages you can see that it’s good quality.”

“It’s so nice to get this type of quality product,” Zander said. “The Wagyu beef is really good to have in schools. It shows that we put a great product out there for students to enjoy.”

LPS Director of Nutrition Services Andrew Ashelford said it was important for students to know that the district obtains local food. The school district defines local as being within a 250-mile radius of Lincoln. LPS buys food from farmers in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. 

“Farm to School teaches students where their food comes from,” Ashelford said. “Nebraska is a large agricultural state that produces items that can be put on a school menu. Incorporating local foods, such as beef or produce, and telling the story of where those items come from engages students in a different way. It is an avenue of education by incorporating information about the local food into their meal experience!”

LPS lunches always include at least four entrée choices, two fruit options, two vegetable choices, multiple grain options and three types of milk. Students choose items they would like to eat on that particular day. LPS also offers daily food information so parents can guide children on meal selections.

School district leaders meet with area farmers throughout the year. They discuss what types of food would be good to put on LPS plates. Ashelford said this type of preparation benefits everyone.

“This helps the farmer plan what to grow and also allows schools an idea on when different products would be available,” Ashelford said. “If a farmer knows that a school district wants to purchase 400 pounds of red peppers, this will allow the farmer the time to plant, grow and harvest the peppers to get into the school. It is a relationship that builds off one another.”

 

LPS buys 37,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables each year from local farmers. This includes items such as watermelon, apples, cucumbers, peppers, cantaloupe, butternut squash, broccoli, potatoes, yogurt and sour cream. The school district also pays for more than 20,000 pounds of fresh chicken thighs and 85,000 gallons of milk each year.

 

The LPS Nutrition Services staff is essential to helping bring those healthier options to students. Zander is in her eighth year as cafeteria manager and Mujkic is beginning her first year as head cook. Both said proper nutrition is essential for students to excel in reading, writing and arithmetic.

“Our job is to support our students in their academics, which is why we want to give them good food,” Zander said. “When students are eating good food, they’re able to reach their goals in the classroom. Having the right nutrition is important, and that’s why we want to have as much fresh food as possible.”

“I like seeing that the kids are having food that is healthy,” Mujkic said. “It’s a big deal for the kids. I like seeing fresh things that come from a garden, since we were always making things from the garden when I was growing up in Bosnia. To see that we’re able to do that here and help kids in that way makes me happy.”

These purchases grow the local economy and build relationships with area farmers. LPS buys $125,000 of produce items and provides farmers $1 million for meat and dairy products annually.

Zander said the Farm to School program is part of a school districtwide effort to help students succeed in every part of their lives.

“We don’t want kids to be hungry, and we want them to eat good food because we know it will help them,” she said. “That’s what our team does best. We care about the kids and want them to do well.”

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