USD 383 takes students on global culinary journey during National School Lunch Week

MANHATTAN, Kan. — USD 383's Child Nutrition Department is celebrating National School Lunch Week with an "Adventures in Nutrition" theme that takes students on a culinary tour around the world.

The weeklong celebration, running Oct. 13-17, honors a program that serves nearly 30 million children every school day across the nation. President John F. Kennedy established National School Lunch Week in 1962 to promote the importance of healthy school lunches and their impact both inside and outside the classroom.

"The child nutrition staff support learning by providing access to healthy, affordable meals to students," according to the department's mission statement.

Each day during the week features cuisine from different regions of the world. The journey began Tuesday with Mesoamerican dishes representing modern-day Mexico and Central America. Wednesday's menu featured Asian-inspired chicken egg rolls served with rice, a fresh vegetable bar, bananas and mandarin oranges.

The international theme appears designed to expose students to diverse foods and cultures while maintaining nutritional standards required by the National School Lunch Program.

The celebration has generated community engagement on the department's social media platforms. One parent, Kristen Ray, raised concerns about accommodations for students with dietary restrictions, specifically questioning what substitutions would be provided for children with milk allergies since egg rolls are not dairy-free.

The Child Nutrition Department operates under USD 383 and can be reached at (785) 587-2851. More information is available at usd383.org/47932_2.

National School Lunch Week serves as an annual reminder of the critical role school meal programs play in student health, academic performance and food security for millions of American families.