November Nutrition Newsletter
November 01st, 2026
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In this issue:
• The Fall 2026 Menu Survey is Here!
• Farm to School Spotlight: Harvest of the Month – Finger Limes
• Heroes of Vista: Stephanie Ross from T.H.E. Leadership Academy
• Menu Spotlight: Veggie Fried Rice
• North County Food Resources
• Job & career opportunities
Fall Menu Survey: We Want to Hear From You!
Your feedback fuels our program. Please take a few minutes and let us hear from you through our Fall 2026 Menu Survey. This anonymous form enables you to provide feedback, ideas, and suggestions on how we serve our Vista Unified Community.
• For the elementary school survey, click here
• For the middle and high school survey, click here
*** If you have children in multiple grade levels, feel free to make a note of that in the feedback section of either survey.
Whether you are a student, staff member, parent, or family member, these surveys provide us with valuable information to help us continually improve our process. From the popularity of different entrees to understanding how we are serving our community, your participation is important.
Thank you for taking part in this process and letting us hear from you.
Farm to School Spotlight:
November Harvest of the Month is Finger Limes
November’s featured item for Harvest of the Month is finger limes. Often called the “caviar of fruit,” finger limes are a tasty and fun treat to accent any meal, and they stand out in a crowd.
For starters, finger limes are oblong in shape, in contrast to traditional limes that are more in the shape of a ball. Also different from traditional limes, finger limes don’t need to be cut open. Bending them in the middle will break them open for a tasty treat that may surprise you.
Instead of being formed in sections, small spheres of tart, tangy tastiness burst out from the fruit. This is why they are sometimes called the caviar of fruit.
Finger limes are an ancient fruit that was first seen in Australia, where it was known as “Bush Fruit.” They grow on trees that can be up to ten feet tall, and it takes the trees three years to start to produce fruit.
Our Harvest of the Month classrooms will be conducting taste tests and lessons featuring finger limes from Dickinson Family Farms in Fallbrook.
Here is a little more information about finger limes:
Why eat finger limes?
• They contain antioxidants that boost your immune system and can even fight against cancer. Finger limes contain 30% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. They also:
• Keep your skin healthy and strong
• Keep you hydrated
• Are rich in vitamin E, which helps keep your immune system strong
• Are high in fiber to keep your stomach happy
• Have lots of vitamin A to keep your eyes healthy
Finger Lime Information
When picking finger limes, look for the brightest colors for the freshest fruit. Don’t worry about small brown spots as long as the skin is bright.
When eating finger limes, squeeze from the bottom of the fruit upward to push the fruit up and out.
Finger limes are a great garnish for salads or any meal that needs a tart, fruity accent, including sushi, seafood, or desserts.
Squeeze finger lime fruit and juice into water for a refreshing twist of flavor.
Harvest of the Month Resources
Learn more about Finger Limes with your class during a Harvest of the Month activity. Harvest of the Month is available for any classroom that wants to participate.
If you’re a teacher, signing up for Harvest of the Month is easy! For more information about the program, classroom tasting parties, and more, email Aleeza Hendershot.
Heroes of Vista: Stephanie Ross from T.H.E. Leadership Academy
Stephanie Ross, the Cafeteria Lead at T.H.E. Leadership Academy, will be honored at the 2026 Heroes of Vista Awards on Friday, November 6th, during a gala event at the Vista Optimist Club. Stephanie will be honored among four other VUSD staff members receiving the 2026 education awards, as well as VUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Doyle, who is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.
The award was a surprise to Stephanie, and a wonderful recognition of the work she does in making every day special for the students and staff at T.H.E. Leadership Academy. “It’s lovely. I am honored”, says Stephanie. “I love my principal, and I love the community here – the kids, the teachers are amazing, and I love my staff.”
For Stephanie, her work is much more than merely filling trays and handing out meals. She recognizes that meal times – whether it be breakfast, lunch, or after-school snacks – are opportunities to build connections as well as reinforce the learning that happens in the classroom.
“From the first day of school, I’m helping kids get acclimated and adjusted to their days. Learning the campus, learning how to get to class, and much more.”
Meal times also offer students opportunities to exercise their own choices. “I like that part of it, because sometimes it’s new to[students], and they don’t usually get choices. They’re used to being told, ‘This is what you’re having for dinner. Eat that.’ And even if they say, ‘What is this?’ they often don’t get to make any changes.
“But we’re here to introduce them to a variety of foods that they can try. It’s great to be able to say, ‘These are dragon fruit – try one!’ Sometimes it’s the first time they’ve gotten the chance to pick it, so I enjoy that part of the job.”
“Stephanie is a treasured member of our T.H.E. Leadership Academy community,” says Principal Kim Morton. “She genuinely cares about every student and takes the time to know each child as an individual, making them feel seen, valued, and loved.”
“We’re also teaching kids how to interact with people, interact with adults,” says Stephanie. “When they come to the window, we have a chance to engage with the kids and build relationships. I absolutely love when I hear kids talking about me and my team, saying things like, ‘Oh, my friends are here in the window.’ It’s the greatest thing!”
MENU SPOTLIGHT: Veggie Fried Rice
One of our popular entrees this fall has been Veggie Fried Rice. A dish familiar to many, it is a flavorful and nutrient-packed meal and a welcome addition to our lineup of vegetarian options.
We found some history about Veggie Fried Rice that we thought we’d share with you.
• Fried Rice originated more than 1400 years ago in China during the Sui Dynasty as a way to use up leftover rice. It was discovered that while fresh rice would turn mushy when used for fried rice due to its high moisture content, leftover rice was drier and would fry up nicely. Eventually, the techniques used to make fried rice spread throughout Southeast Asia, with different flavors and ingredients being used, depending on the location.
• In some parts of China, fried rice has a spicy sauce and uses garlic, green onion, and red onion, while in Thailand it is flavored with fish sauce and accompanied by lime and cucumber. Fried rice in the Philippines is garlic-based and commonly eaten at breakfast with eggs and cured meats, and in Cambodia it contains pork, sausages, eggs, soy sauce, and herbs.
Luckily for us, fried rice has traveled all of the way to the Americas, where we tend to eat it with ham, peas, carrots, and egg. You can find this delicious and nutritious dish in many places around town- including your local school cafeteria.
Our own WaveCrest Cafe fried rice contains brown rice, edamame, veggies, and scrambled eggs, making it a powerhouse of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals- ensuring that our students have the energy to learn well and play hard. On this fall menu, make sure you have some fried rice and remember how lucky we are that 1400 years ago someone decided to give that day-old rice a new life.
Be sure to check your school’s menu for the full selection of items and your daily favorites.
*** Menus are subject to change based on ingredient availability and staffing needs.
Food Resources for North County
We recognize that people sometimes need extra help to be food secure. Our district has compiled a list of the organizations providing assistance in North County.
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, we have a section on our Resources page that lists the organizations we know of that are providing these services.
We’re Hiring!
Join Our Amazing Team.
School nutrition is an extremely rewarding job. You can be part of the nation’s largest restaurant group, serving tasty and nutritious meals to our children each and every day. What’s more, you’ll meet amazing people who are skilled, dedicated, and passionate about their roles.
Our team has the unique opportunity to interact with almost every student, every day. Those interactions make a big difference in our kids’ lives and lead to long-lasting and meaningful friendships.
See all of our available positions here: https://wavecrestcafe.com/employment-opportunities/
Follow us on social media:
(C) 2026 WaveCrest Cafe / Vista Unified School District
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Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of
the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(2) Fax: 202-690-7442
(3) E-mail: [email protected]
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Declaración de no discriminación de USDA De conformidad con la ley federal de derechos civiles, y las regulaciones y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), el USDA, sus agencias, oficinas y empleados, y las instituciones que participan en los programas del USDA o los administran, tienen prohibido discriminar basándose en la raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo, identidad de género (incluida la expresión de género), orientación sexual, discapacidad, edad, estado civil, estado familiar/parental, ingresos derivados de un programa de asistencia pública o ideología política, y tomar represalias por actividad previa sobre derechos civiles, en cualquier programa o actividad dirigida o financiada por el USDA (no todas las bases aplican a todos los programas). Las fechas límite de la presentación de quejas y recursos legales varían según el programa o incidente.
Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios de comunicación alternativos para recibir información sobre el programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lengua de señas estadounidense, etcétera) deben contactar la agencia responsable o al TARGET Center del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY), o contactar al USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión llamando al (800) 877-8339. Además, la información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas distintos al inglés.
Para presentar una queja sobre discriminación en el programa, complete el Formulario de quejas sobre discriminación en el programa, AD-3027, que se encuentra en http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o escriba una carta dirigida al USDA y proporcione en ella toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de quejas, llame al (866) 632-9992. Envíe su formulario completo o carta al USDA por los siguientes medios:
(1) (2) (3) correo postal: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; o
(3) correo electrónico: [email protected].
USDA es un proveedor, empleador y entidad crediticia que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.