
February 2025 WaveCrest Cafe Newsletter
February 03rd, 2025
In this issue:
• How School Meals Measure Up
• Harvest of the Month: Purple Ninja Radish
• Featured Menu Item: Vegetarian Dumplings
• Job & career opportunities
How School Meals Measure Up
It’s been said that school cafes are the biggest restaurant group in the country, both by the number of locations and meals served. They also have more guidelines for nutrition than any other restaurant. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the national school meal program, has specific guidelines for what can go into school meals.
These guidelines are set to ensure that the meals our children eat are nutritious and help form healthy habits. We won’t go into all of the guidelines, but in broad terms, school meals, by law, are required to meet certain limits of things like protein, sodium, carbohydrates, fats, and other nutritional components. And we do!
But when you see something like Orange Chicken with Rice on our menu you may wonder how these meals compare to similar offerings at other restaurants. You can always click on the Nutritional Information section on our website (on the Menus page), but we wanted to give you some examples of how our meals stack up against other places that want you and your kids to visit.
Orange Chicken & Rice
You can see that the Orange Chicken & Rice Bowl that we serve has 82% less sodium than a similar dish at a fast-casual restaurant like Panda Express. It also has 5x less cholesterol, 4x less fat, and half of the calories, making it a really efficient way to fuel bodies and minds.
Popcorn Chicken Bites
This menu favorite has 5x less sodium than a similar chain’s version, with 30% less fat and 46% fewer calories.
When you pair that with a wonderful selection of fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies that come with every meal (many from local California farms), you get a meal that stands head and shoulders above those that target our kids outside of school.
We are constantly working on new recipes and approaches to our menus. Everyone has different taste buds, so we develop menu ideas that cover as many bases as possible to give our kids choices and opportunities to try new foods. Whatever we do it will meet the guidelines we have for offering tasty, nutritious meals every day.
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.
Farm to School Focus: February’s Harvest Of The Month is Purple Ninja Radish
Our February Harvest of the Month food is Purple Ninja Radish, an exciting new addition to our HOTM lineup. Purple Ninja radishes are root vegetables, meaning they grow underground. Other root vegetables include carrots, onions, beets, ginger, and sweet potatoes.
Purple Ninja radishes originated in China and have made their way around the world. The name, in Chinese, means “Beauty in the Heart.” Purple Ninja radishes have green skin and pink insides. They can range in size from the size of a golf ball to that of a softball.
• Purple Ninja radish have several nutritional highlights, including:
• They are a good source of fiber to keep your stomach healthy.
• They have calcium to build strong bones.
• They are 89% water, which can help you stay hydrated.
• They are high in vitamin C, which helps to keep the immune system strong.
More About Purple Ninja Radish
• Purple Ninja radishes are part of the mustard family.
• They have a mild, peppery flavor.
• They are a great addition to many items, including:
• Salads
• A bowl meal (protein bowls, burrito bowls, etc.).
• Sandwiches, where you can add them for color and crunch.
• You can roast them for a colorful and tasty side dish.
• They are great when pickled and added to tacos, burgers, and other warm items.
Harvest of the Month Resources
Learn more about Purple Ninja radish with your class during a Harvest of the Month activity. You can download our Harvest of the Month resources for families here.
Harvest of the Month is available for any classroom that wants to participate. If your child’s teacher wants to sign up for the program, it’s easy. For more information about the program, classroom tasting parties, and more, email Aleeza Hendershot.
Menu Spotlight: Vegetarian Dumplings
Dumplings, also known as Pot Stickers, are growing in popularity, so we’ve developed a fresh vegetarian version for every grade level (elementary school diners receive six dumplings while middle and high schoolers receive eight).
Each dumpling is filled with a tasty mix of seasoned vegetables with tofu and wrapped in a tender shell that is perfect for dipping in a tangy sauce.
Add a selection of fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies to your plate and you’ve got a vegetarian meal packed with nutrients, and 3x less sodium than those you’ll find outside of school.
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.
Build Your Perfect Plate:
Giving Students Choices For Every Meal
Not only do we offer a variety of menu choices every day (4 in elementary schools and up to 9 in middle and high schools), but every meal comes with a selection of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables.
This selection allows every student to build a plate with the things they like best from all our offerings. Want to load up on jicama and spinach? Go for it! Are pomegranates and grapes more your thing? Help yourself!
While the focus of meals can often be on the entree, building a perfect plate is a way of developing a habit of creating full, well-balanced meals that can last a lifetime.
We encourage each student to build their plate daily and hope that parents, families, teachers, and staff will join us in encouraging our students to take advantage of the wide range of fresh foods offered daily.
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.
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/
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(C) 2025 WaveCrest Cafe / Vista Unified School District
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades.