June 2024 Nutrition Newsletter
June 03rd, 2024
JUNE 2024 WAVECREST CAFE
NUTRITION NEWSLETTER
In this issue:
• Summer Meals start June 10th – see the menu!
• Spring Menu Survey
• Farm to Summer Week is June 17-21
• Local Foods Update: 201,258 lbs. Of California foods this year!
• Hack Your Snacks: Smart snack tips for summer
• Job & career opportunities
Summer Meals Start June 10th
Summer break may be approaching, but that doesn’t mean we stop feeding our community. Our WaveCrest Cafe team will be hard at work all summer long, serving breakfast and lunch to our Vista Unified community.
The district’s Summer Meals program, operated through the USDA, launches June 10th and runs through August 9th at six school locations and the Boys & Girls Club of Vista.
Click here to download the summer menu with locations, dates, and times.
Fresh Fruits & Veggies All Summer
As with all WaveCrest Cafe meals, entrees are served with a selection of fresh, seasonal fruits & vegetables. Our Farm 2 School program continues all summer long as we work to source fresh, delicious produce from local California farmers. School meal programs are pioneering the accessibility of fresh produce across the country.
Schedules and menus are posted on the WaveCrest Cafe website, on our social media channels, and shared via emails and handouts to parents and families from each school.
We encourage everyone in our community to share this information to reach the widest possible audience.
Text For Locations
In addition to the posted information with locations, dates, times, and menus, anyone can text FOOD (English) or COMIDA (Spanish) to 304-304, to receive information on the closest locations.
Statistically, just 1 out of 7 children who qualify for free or reduced meals during the school year eat lunch during the summer months. Our summer program is a way to close that gap and provide nutrition to the communities and children that we serve.
Summer Meals Details:
What: No-cost meals for children 18 & under: Meals are available to all children 18 & under with no forms or paperwork required.
When: Our summer meals program runs from June 10 – August 9. We’ll serve breakfast and lunch Monday – Friday, except for Wednesday, June 19th, and Thursday, July 4th.
Where: Meals will be served at six school locations and the Boys & Girls Club of Vista.
Why: “Our summer meals program is an integral and important service to fulfill our department’s mission,” says Karolyn Wasung, Director of Child Nutrition Services for Vista Unified School District.
Be sure to join us for meals all summer!
We Need To Hear From You:
Spring Menu Survey
You’ve probably received an email inviting you to participate in our Spring 2024 Menu Survey. These surveys are tremendous as they help us and provide a way to hear your voices as we continue to improve and innovate with our nutrition program.
Click here for the elementary school survey
Click here for the middle and high school survey
Surveys are due by Thursday, June 6th.
Farm to Summer Week: June 17-21
To help kick off our Summer Meals program, we will participate in the national Farm to Summer Week celebration. This annual campaign will run from June 17 to 21. In addition to the fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies we always offer with our meals, we’ll have special taste test items and other fun ways to encourage everyone to make fruits and vegetables part of every meal (and snack) year-round.
Local Food Update
Our commitment to sourcing local, California foods for our students continues. Since the start of the school year through the end of March, WaveCrest Cafe has sourced 51,281 lbs. of fruits and vegetables from local farms within 75 miles of our Central Kitchen.
On top of that, our ability to offer “California Food For California Kids” is as strong as ever. We have sourced 201,258 lbs of fruits and vegetables from California farms!
Many of our local and California farms are organic, and because of the network of farms delivering foods right after they’ve been harvested, our students are offered the freshest seasonal foods around! We appreciate all of our partners in building a rich and vibrant Farm 2 School program to serve our students and families.
Snack Smart This Summer
Planning for healthy snacks can satisfy hunger between meals and keep you moving toward your food group goals. We have a collection of ideas and tips to help you make your summer snacks fun and flavorful! You can download this easy tip sheet as well: HackingYourSnacks
Build Your Own: Make your own trail mix with unsalted nuts and add-ins such as seeds, dried fruit, popcorn, or a sprinkle of chocolate chips.
Prep Ahead: Portion snack foods into bags or containers when you get home from the store so they’re ready to grab-n-go when you need them.
Make It A Combo: Combine food groups for a satisfying snack—yogurt and berries, apple with peanut butter, whole-grain crackers with turkey and avocado.
Eat Vibrant Veggies: Spice up raw vegetables with dips. Try dipping bell peppers, carrots, or cucumbers in hummus, tzatziki, guacamole, or baba ganoush.
Snack On The Go: Bring ready-to-eat snacks when you’re out. A banana, yogurt (in a cooler), or baby carrots are easy to bring along and healthy options.
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/
NO COST FOR SCHOOL MEALS NEXT YEAR!
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.
*** With meals being offered at no charge, we are anticipating more students will be dining with us. This may affect the availability of some entrees as we learn and adapt to greater numbers and meeting the demand.
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.