September 2025 Nutrition Newsletter
September 02nd, 2025
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In this issue:
• September is National Whole Grains Month
• Farm to School Spotlight: Harvest of the Month – Kiwi berries
• School Meals Are Saving Families Money
• Menu Spotlight: Beef & Broccoli Bowl
• Job & career opportunities
September is National Whole Grains Month
Did you know that 80% of the grain products offered in school meals are required to be whole grain-rich? That rule applies to everything from our pizza crust (made locally by Sadie Rose Bakery) to breakfast croissants, tortillas, and sandwich buns.
Whole grains contain up to 300% more nutrients than enriched grains, which means that school meals pack more nutrients into every bite. Grains are the largest source of fiber in the American diet and contain a plentiful amount of other necessary nutrients such as B vitamins (folate, thiamin, niacin), zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, and more.
You can learn more about whole grains, including a quiz to see which type of grain you are, at the Whole Grains Council website, where there is a section all about Whole Grain Month. They even have a resource with 30 ways to use more whole grains in your diet at home.
As always, you can be assured that every meal at WaveCrest Cafe is packed with whole-grain rich ingredients to power our students’ learning and growing.
Farm to School Spotlight:
Harvest of The Month Available For Your Classroom
One of the most powerful nutrition education programs we have is called Harvest of the Month. Each month, participating classrooms receive samples of fresh, seasonal produce with lesson plans and activities that kids love.
We work with local farms to source the produce. Not only do students have fun and engaging ways to taste and learn about new foods, but they often get to learn about the nearby farms that grow the food they are eating. This makes a powerful impression in knowing that local, family farms are involved in making school meals tastier and healthier.
What’s more, Harvest of the Month items are featured in our cafeterias every Thursday, giving all students an opportunity to enjoy and even discover these new foods.
Any classroom in the district can participate, and the lessons and activities are already developed and ready to go. 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.
September Harvest of the Month
Featured Food: Kiwi Berries from Dickinson Family Farms
We have a fascinating and delicious new item for September’s Harvest of the Month: Kiwi berries.
Kiwi berries are cousins of the popular furry Kiwi fruit, but they are smaller and smoother. They are close in size to grapes and can be eaten the same way. Once washed, you can enjoy their vibrant flavor by eating them whole. Kiwi berries taste similar to full-size kiwi, although they are slightly sweeter and have a bit more of a tart aftertaste.
Kiwi Berry Nutrition Facts
• Kiwi berries are a “super-food, and are packed with vitamins and nutrients.
• Kiwi berries have 5x more vitamin C than oranges.
• They contain a significant amount of vitamin B-complex and zinc.
• Kiwi berries have 3x more antioxidants than fuzzy kiwi.
Kiwi berries are native plants to northern, cooler areas of Asia, such as parts of China, Korea, and Japan. While they have been available in the United States for more than 150 years, they have recently increased significantly in popularity. In fact, you can find them in many grocery and “big box” stores.
Dickinson Family Farms is owned and operated by fourth-generation family farmers who apply organic, sustainable, and regenerative practices to grow their food.
What’s more, food at Dickinson Family Farms is hand-picked and hand-sorted. They do not use machines to sort and grade their fruit, relying instead on the expertise and experience of their team to see the difference between good fruit and marginal fruit.
The current farm was founded in 1989 and has become a hub for other local farmers to collaborate on processing and helping great food find its way to people’s plates, including those at WaveCrest Cafe!
Harvest of the Month Resources
Learn more about Kiwi berries with your class during a Harvest of the Month activity. 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.
Kiwi Berries Info: September 2025
Menu Spotlight: Beef & Broccoli Bowl
This is a brand-new item on our menu and we’re excited to bring these bold, fresh flavors to schools. Tender, flavor-filled beef slices are mixed with a hearty serving of broccoli and mixed with a tangy sauce and served over rice. It’s a delicious mix of taste and nutrition to power learning and growing.
Even better: you can add to this delectable dish by choosing from the many fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables from local California farms that are available at every meal.
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.
Salad Bars at WaveCrest Cafe
Did you know that every elementary school and some middle and high schools have salad bars stocked with fresh, seasonal fruits & veggies and our homemade condiments like salsa and low-fat buttermilk ranch dressing? And every school has those fresh foods available for meals each and every day.
Build Your Perfect Plate
With all of this amazing food offered, we encourage our students (and staff) to build the plate that they want. Whether it’s adding your favorite toppings to a burger, decorating tamales and tacos with just the right mix of salsa and veggies, or adding fresh fruit to a salad, these options are offered every day.
We encourage you to make the most of everything that’s offered and build your own perfect plate.
Student Meals Aren’t Just Free, They’re Saving Families Money
Student meals continue to be offered at no cost. School meals deliver benefits, including a connection to better academic performance, reduced absences, reducing food insecurity, eliminating the stigma for school meals, and equitable access to fresh foods.
On top of that, families are saving money. A conservative estimate shows that having students choose school meals can save a family over $1,300 per year, per child. Factoring in an average cost of $4.50 per lunch and $3.00 per breakfast, and multiplying that by the 180 instructional days of a school year, the savings add up.
A recent study by the consulting firm Deloitte found that a Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich costs more to make at home than the cost of a school meal. California’s commitment to universal school meals expands the savings even more.
Not only is there a significant financial benefit to families, but our Farm to School program means that students are offered a wide variety of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, including organic products, from partners like Dickinson Family Farms and Dassi Family Farms.
Join us for breakfast and lunch, and enjoy fresh, healthy, delicious meals and the peace of mind of no-cost meals for all of our students.
MenuLogic K12 Makes Detailed Nutrition Information Easy To Find!
We are thrilled to work with MenuLogic K12 to provide an easy-to-access guide to our menus, nutrition information, and a list of allergens in any item.
Simply visit our menu page and scroll to the listing at each grade level that says, “Click here for all menu nutrition and allergen information.” The Menu Logic page lets you choose your school, and then see a detailed listing of all the nutrition and allergen information for every entree, side dish, and condiment.
Enjoy this quick, user-friendly resource!
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.
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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.