August (Back to School) Nutrition Newsletter
August 13th, 2024
AUGUST 2024 WAVECREST CAFE
BACK TO SCHOOL NUTRITION NEWSLETTER
In this issue:
• New Menu & New Menu Format
• Farm to School Spotlight
• Update of free meals
• Job & career opportunities
NEW Fall Menu
We have some big changes happening with our menus this year that we’re excited to tell you about.
Our fall menu is ready to view here.
We’ve got plenty of tasty new menu items in store, and are happy to be working with local vendors and farmers. A few things of note:
• Three-Week Cycle; Semester-long menus: We are shifting from doing three menus per year (Fall-Winter-Spring) to two that will align with the Fall and Spring semester schedule. We are maintaining the same variety and number of options by having a three-week menu cycle. That means that our offerings will change more frequently, offering our students more choice.
• Protein-rich breakfast entrees: We continue to develop more protein-rich breakfast entrees to offer each and every day as part of a healthy and delicious mix of foods designed to power learning all day long. Among the items are:
• Egg, Potato & Cheese Breakfast Burrito
• Ham & Cheese Croissant
• Orchard Crunch Parfait with Homemade Granola
• Breakfast Egg Scramble
• Pizza Toast
• Sausage & Cheese Breakfast Burrito
• Crunchy Breakfast Taco
All breakfasts come with a selection of fresh, seasonal fruits. Enjoy these protein-packed entrees and join us for breakfast daily!
Featured lunch entrees: We’re adding a bunch of new options to our already robust mix of returning favorite items. This fall sees the return of our popular Chicken Tamale from Del Real Farms, the Orange Chicken & Rice Bowl, Carnitas Street Tacos, and a fresh-baked WaveCrest Meat Lovers Pizza alongside cheese and pepperoni options.
New Lunch Entree options include:
• Build Your Own Parfait Bar with fresh, seasonal fruits (Elementary Schools Only)
• Edamame Kung Pao Chicken
• Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
• Chicken Alfredo Penne Pasta
• Teriyaki Chicken with Yakisoba Noodles
• Mediterranean Bento Box
• Smoothie & Cinnamon Raisin Bagel (Secondary Schools Only)
• Tortellini with Marinara Sauce
Be sure to check your school’s menu for your daily favorites.
*** Menus are subject to change based on ingredient availability and staffing needs.
HOW OUR MEALS MEASURE UP
A recent study by Tufts University on the eating habits of more than 60,000 Americans, including 21,000 children, concluded that “Schools are now the healthiest place most Americans are eating.”
Much of that has to do with the nutritional content found in school meals, which ensure that students (and staff) who eat with us receive meals that are:
• Protein-rich
• Low in saturated fats
• Low in sodium
• Packed with whole grains (that have up to 3x the nutrients of enriched grains)
At WaveCrest Cafe we also offer fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, many from local, California farms, with every meal. We are proud to say that we ensure that every child has access to delicious, nutrient-packed fruits and vegetables every day.
Here are a couple of examples of how our meals stack up to the meals that many children encounter.
You can find the nutritional information of our food on our website.
You can also look at all of our information on MenuLogic K12 where we have nutrition and allergen information by item.
To read the Tufts University study on the eating habits of Americans, click here.
Farm to School Spotlight
Local Foods For Our Students
Last year we purchased 201,258 lbs. of fresh, seasonal California produce, including 51,281 lbs. of fruits and vegetables from local farms within 75 miles of our Central Kitchen!
It’s part of our commitment to Farm 2 School and working with as many local, California farms as possible. Among the local farms we’re working with are Dassi Family Farms, Davis Farms, Sage Farms, and Stehly Farms Organics.
Be sure to watch for an ever-changing selection of fresh fruits & veggies on our salad bars and at all cafeterias. Every student has a chance to build their perfect plate packed with delicious fresh foods that deliver vital vitamins and nutrients.
Farm to Summer Week 2024
Farm to Summer Week is an annual celebration of local foods in schools during the summer break, as school nutrition programs operate year-round. The program continues to build momentum with WaveCrest Cafe, as we treated nearly 500 students at three summer meal locations to lunchtime taste tests, engaging students and staff alike to sample a variety of local, California foods.
An added bonus to the week was a visit from Dickinson Family Farms, a nearby farm where the district purchases food throughout the year.
Student excitement was palpable as they saw a creative display set up near the cafe. The decorated tables had myriad fruits and vegetables along with food information cards and inspirational quotes, creating a unique environment that invited students to approach and sample the foods.
“Our students and staff were very excited to see the food on display at lunchtime,” says Karly Wasung, Director of Child Nutrition Services for Vista Unified. “The tables created a fun experience to see the fruits and vegetables and then be able to talk to us about how local they were.”
Read the rest of the Farm to Summer story here.
Farmers Markets
We’ll again be working with our partners at Food4Thought to bring an interactive Farmers Market activity to every elementary school throughout the school year. These are fun, action-packed experiences where kids learn where foods come from, including many that are offered to them at school every day.
Be on the lookout for an announcement from your child’s school this year.
NO COST FOR STUDENT MEALS!
California is one of seven states across the country that has made school meals available at no cost to all students! In addition to providing fresh, healthy, delicious foods to our students, there is no paperwork required.
How Much Can I Save With School Meals?
Not only do school meals deliver great taste and great nutrition, but because they are offered at no cost, they also deliver huge savings for families. How huge? Let’s take a look.
• School lunches can save a family over $700 per year per child! If you factor a lunch at $4 and students have 180 instructional days, that totals out at $720 per year per child.
• School breakfast can save another $400+ per year. If you have breakfast at $2.50 x 180 instructional days, that adds up to over $400 per year, per child.
• Students enjoying both breakfast and lunch with WaveCrest Cafe can save over $1,000 per year on food bills per child.
Take advantage of our great selection of fresh, seasonal produce, and warm and friendly staff to have fresh, healthy, delicious, and free meals!
PRACTICE WITH YOUR CHILD:
Entering Their ID on a Keypad
To make your child’s dining experience even better, help them to practice entering their student ID number on a keypad (especially for our youngest learners). This is the process we use to track the number of meals served so that we are reimbursed for the right number of meals and can make the most of our resources.
Download this PDF practice sheet and practice at home with your child.
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/
RESOURCES, GRANTS, AND EVENTS
Request A Master Gardener For Your School
The San Diego County Master Gardener Association provides Master Gardeners to help schools set up and maintain gardens. Master Gardeners act as consultants, mentoring parents and teachers who request help with beginning or improving their school gardens. Request a garden consultant here.
Educational Garden Design Grant – Rolling Dates
The California Native Garden Foundation offers grants for school gardens that feature CA native plants. Types of support include garden design services, in-kind donations of plants and landscape materials, volunteer assistance, and direct financial assistance. Click here to learn more and to apply.
Solana Center Workshops – Rolling Dates
The Solana Center hosts a variety of workshops and lessons across San Diego County, with topics including composting, raising backyard chickens, green living, and water-wise gardening. Check out their events calendar here.
Bonnie’s Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program – Rolling Dates
Bonnie’s provides free mega-cabbage plants to 3rd-grade teachers across the US who want to participate. Students grow the cabbages and submit pictures and measurements of their harvest to be considered for a $1,000 scholarship. Find out how to participate here.
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(C) 2024 WaveCrest Cafe / Vista Unified School District
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades.