September Nutrition Newsletter
September 01st, 2026
Si desean leer el boletín en español, hagan clic aquí.
In this issue:
• September is Attendance Awareness Month + National Whole Grains Month
• Farm to School Spotlight: Harvest of the Month – Dragon Fruit
• Build Your Perfect Plate! Salad Bars offer options for students
• Menu Spotlight: California Sushi Bowl + Egg and Cheese Stuffed HashBrowns
• Nutrition Education Opportunities
• Job & career opportunities
September is National Attendance Awareness Month
Attendance is key to making the most of a school experience. Better attendance results in greater academic achievement, stronger social connections, and improved retention of lessons.
What’s more, eating meals at school correlates to better attendance and the benefits that accompany it. According to the CDC, “eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores.”
Be sure to check your school’s menu to see our tasty, nutritious breakfast options and join us for breakfast and lunch.
National Whole Grain 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 to breakfast croissants, tortillas, and sandwich buns.
We source many of our grains from local and California-based companies, including:
• Sadie Rose Bakery
• Esperanza’s Tortilleria
• Glasso’s
• Dave’s Bakery
• Fat Cats Bakery
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.
*** Menus are subject to change based on ingredient availability and staffing needs.
September Harvest of the Month
Featured Food: Dragon Fruit (aka Pitaya) from Dickinson Family Farms
September’s Harvest of the Month features one of the most unique-looking foods around: Dragon Fruit. It is also known as pitaya or a strawberry pear. Dragon Fruit is a tropical fruit, which allows it to grow in San Diego’s climate. It has a vibrant pink exterior and a bold, white or pink interior of the fruit with small seeds.
The taste of Dragon Fruit has been explained as a cross between a kiwi and a pear, with the texture closer to a kiwi, while the flavor is more like the mildness of a pear. It can be served in many ways, including with yogurt, in a smoothie, on its own, or with lime juice sprinkled on top.
Dragon Fruit Facts
Dragon Fruit grows on the Hylocereus cactus, which is also known as the Honolulu queen. The plant’s flowers only open at night and are pollinated by bats.
Dragon fruit is grown around the world in tropical and subtropical areas, including the US, Mexico, Central and South America, East, South, and Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Australia.
Dragon Fruit gets its name based on its appearance, with leather-like skin and spikes on the outside.
Dragon Fruit Nutrition Information
• Dragon Fruit is rich in iron, high in fiber, is a rich source of antioxidants, and can help boost immunity.
• Dragon fruit contains many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, calcium, iron, and magnesium.
• Studies like this have shown that pitaya can exert several benefits in conditions such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer due to the presence of bioactive compounds that may include vitamins, potassium, betacyanin, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, and gallic acid.
Harvest of the Month Resources
Learn more about Dragon Fruit with your class during a Harvest of the Month activity. Harvest of the Month is available for any classroom that wants to participate. If you’re a teacher, signing up for Harvest of the Month is easy! For more information about the program, classroom tasting parties, and more, email Aleeza Hendershot.
Additional Nutrition Education Opportunities
Our team offers a variety of nutrition education opportunities throughout the school year. These resources engage students and staff alike in learning about new foods, where our food comes from, how to prepare healthy, delicious snacks and meals, and more! In addition to Harvest of the Month, we offer these opportunities.
The Charlie Cart: These mobile kitchens are designed by The Charlie Cart Project, whose mission is to equip “the next generation with the knowledge and confidence to make healthy food choices through hands-on cooking.” Each cart is compact and mobile, and brings all the tools, lessons, recipes, and support needed to build a comprehensive food education program. From cutting boards and utensils to a skillet top, the Charlie Cart even includes its own built-in water tank to handle cleanup. For more information, email Aleeza Hendershot.
Additional Activities: We also have our popular Blender Bikes visiting schools and making student/bike-powered smoothies. We conduct taste tests at schools throughout the year, exploring new recipes and gathering feedback from our most valuable diners. We have many nutrition education options available for students.
Teachers: see the opportunities and book an event today by using the information in this booklet.
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 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.
MENU SPOTLIGHT #1 (MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL): California Sushi Bowl
This is a special for middle and high schools that we added after fantastic responses to taste tests of this item. It is modeled on the popular California Roll, and features surimi (imitation crab), edamame, cucumber, carrots, and brown rice. A house-made spicy mayo and soy sauce packet will be offered on the side.
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.
MENU HIGHLIGHT #2 (ALL GRADES):
Egg & Cheese Stuffed Hashbrowns
Start your day with these delicious hash browns, stuffed with egg and cheese and served with fresh, seasonal fruits. Tender and crunchy and packed with the nutrients you need to power a day of learning.
Middle and high school diners receive three hash browns with their breakfast.
*** Menus are subject to change based on ingredient availability and staffing needs.
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) 2026 WaveCrest Cafe / Vista Unified School District
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Esta institución es un proveedor de igualdad de oportunidades.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
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.