January 2025 WaveCrest Cafe Newsletter
January 01st, 2025
In this issue:
• New Menu Begins January 8!
• New Menu Entree Features
• Harvest Of The Month: Red Kiwi
• Farm to School Feature: NAME OF FARM
• Insights From Our Fall Menu Survey
• Job & career opportunities
NEW MENU!
Our new Winter/Spring menu launches as we return from Winter Break on Wednesday, January 8th! Click here to see the full menu.
Our new menu has lots of new items as well as ongoing favorites to give our diners many options every day. And with our new three-week cycle (instead of our former two-week cycle), the variety is greater to meet all kinds of tastes.
Every meal is offered with a variety of fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies, including many from local, California-based farms. Our commitment to Farm 2 School means you’re offered high-quality, delicious, nutrient-packed produce every day. Here are a few menu highlights.
Chicken Wings and Popcorn Chicken: Our middle and high schoolers will enjoy a plate packed with chicken wings and a delicious garlic knot, while elementary school diners have the always-popular option of popcorn chicken waiting for their plates!
Fish! Tacos, Burritos, Sticks, and a Sandwich: Every grade level will have multiple seafood options on this menu. Elementary diners will have fish sticks, fish tacos, and a fish burrito as lunchtime options. Middle and high schoolers will enjoy fish tacos, a fish burrito, and a delicious fish sandwich.
Hawaiian WaveCrest Pizza: Returning to our new menu is this flavor- and protein-packed pizza baked fresh in our ovens daily. It uses a white whole wheat dough from Vista’s own Sadie Rose bakery and is topped with ham, pineapple, and a tasty, tangy sauce.
Vegetarian Options
In response to your requests, we’ve added more vegetarian options to every grade level menu, including:
Vegetarian Burrito Bowl: A hearty veggie burrito without the tortilla but packed with the same rich flavors you’d expect.
Vegetarian Dumplings: Dumplings are increasing in popularity across the country, and we found these tasty items that come with a delicious sauce to make lunch time delicious.
Ballpark Loaded Tater Tots with a Cornbread Muffin: Loaded tots are a favorite at Padres games and all over, so we’ve got this tasty, nutritious bowl packed with nutrients ready to power a day of learning.
New Breakfast Entrees
Our Breakfast menu continues to expand and add new options to start the day off right and power a day of learning. A few of the items that we’re particularly excited about include:
Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Croissant: This is a protein and flavor-packed item sure to find fans and fill bellies.
Breakfast Quesadilla: A ham and cheese-filled quesadilla is just the thing to start the day. Add our fresh, seasonal fruits to make it a full meal.
Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Link, and Pancake Bites: Start with a savory helping of eggs and sausage, and add some bite-sized mini pancakes and fresh fruit to complete your meal and start the day.
Apple Fritter: Whole grains and the mild sweetness of apple seasoning are the bedrock of this breakfast entree ready to pair with fresh fruits – just the things to start the day!
We’ve got many more items to showcase and we hope you’ll join us for breakfast and lunch each and 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:
January’s Harvest Of The Month is Red Kiwi
We are excited to feature Red Kiwis as our January Harvest of the Month food. While similar to the more common green kiwis (especially on the outside), there is a subtle change in taste and a dynamically different look on the inside.
Inside, their flesh is a striking red color, with a sweet, tangy flavor and tiny black seeds, much like the green kiwi, but with a more vibrant and berry-like taste. The red kiwi’s flavor is often described as a blend of strawberry, raspberry, and kiwi. We can’t wait for the classroom taste tests to see our students’ reactions to this enticing and unique food.
Red Kiwi Background
• Red kiwis are native to China, though they are now grown in various regions with suitable climates, including New Zealand and parts of the U.S. Red kiwis grow on vines, similar to the traditional green kiwis and thrive in temperate climates with mild winters and warm summers.
• The vines require a lot of sunlight and well-drained soil to produce high-quality fruit. Red kiwis tend to take longer to mature than their green counterparts.
• Kiwi can make almost any meal better and they can be used in a variety of ways including: on salads, in smoothies or yogurt parfaits, in salsa, as a flavoring agent in water, or eaten on their own.
More Red Kiwi Facts
• Packed with Vitamin C: Kiwis are incredibly high in vitamin C—actually, they contain more vitamin C than an equivalent amount of orange! A single kiwi can provide over 100% of your daily vitamin C needs.
• Kiwis may support immune functions and reduce the likelihood of developing cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Kiwi (of all kinds) improve breathing and can reduce the symptoms of asthma.
• Kiwis can reduce blood clotting.
• Kiwis are high in fiber which helps us to digest food more efficiently.
• The nutrients in kiwis can protect against vision loss.
• The vitamin K in kiwi promotes stronger, healthier bones.
Harvest of the Month Resources
Learn more about Red Kiwi 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.
Fall Menu Survey Insights
We are grateful for the nearly 2,500 people who filed out our fall 2024 menu survey. These surveys have been an enormous help in staying in touch with our students, families, and staff, and they shape our work in many ways.
Something For Every Taste Bud
One of the things that this survey highlighted was the variety of tastes that we are trying to serve, and how each menu item reaches different people. The variety of responses to your most- and least-favorite items was as varied as we’ve ever seen, which tells us a few things:
Clear favorites: Some items continue to rise above the rest, which is always great to know.
Favorites Change: Some items that were perennial top-three picks in the past are now more in the top-five or top-ten range. This is one reason we continue to try new items and develop new recipes.
Choice Matters: Seeing the variety of responses encourages us in our approach to provide multiple options for meals every day. Middle and high school diners can have up to 8 entree choices per day! We know that not every item is everyone’s favorite, but by providing many options we hope to empower our diners to find their favorites and build a perfect plate every day.
Knowledge About Our Nutrition Program Is High
Farm to School: We talk about our Farm to School program a lot, and we’re happy that you’re paying attention. In fact, nearly 77% of parents, 90% of staff, and 57% of students are aware of our acclaimed Farm to School program.
Local Food: While sourcing food from local and California farms and producers is part of Farm to School, we want to highlight those items for you. While awareness of the specific farms is not as high as the overall Farm to School program, more than half of respondents (and almost 75% of staff are aware of this. We will continue to tell you about the local farms that provide our fresh foods.
Nutritional Value of School Meals: We asked if survey respondents knew that school meals are rich in protein, use whole grains, and are low in fat, sodium, and added sugars? 65% of parents, 83% of staff, and 53% of students responded yes. We’ll do more to let you know about this, but it’s a great place to be; help us spread the word!
Feedback Matters
We value the time it takes to share your insights and feedback and we take it seriously. It helps shape our menus and the things we communicate and we are grateful for everyone who took time. Some of the things that your feedback has affected include:
More protein-rich breakfast options: In the past, much of this was driven by USDA guidelines. It still is, but consistent feedback has helped shape those guidelines and we are happy to add more items that meet your needs.
More vegetarian and plant-based foods: We are always looking for new items that meet these needs. The more that our diners choose these items the more we can add and grow that art of our menu. Your input matters.
Clearer communication: When we hear your perceptions and opinions it helps us to communicate with greater clarity and address the questions we hear. When we hear questions about what nutritional components are in our food, we developed resources like the “Ours Vs. Theirs” graphics that give a snapshot into the ways that our food is designed for healthy and enjoyable eating. Or when we talk about the money a family can save by dining at school, we showcase the real financial impact and benefit of school meals.
Thanks again for your feedback and sharing your voice. We look forward to hearing from you again later this spring.
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/
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.
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) 2025 WaveCrest Cafe / Vista Unified School District
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades.