Memphis students recently had a direct say in their school lunch menus, thanks to an annual event hosted by Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Nutrition Services Department. At the MSCS Food Show, held last Thursday at Southwind High School, young taste testers sampled an assortment of breakfast and lunch items, giving each a simple approval with green tags or a red tag rejection. Students' voices on what gets served in their cafeterias were heard loud and clear, with a simple and democratic process of green for "pass", red for "fail" deciding the menu fates.
According to an interview with MSCS dietitian Emily Papineau conducted by MSCS, strict nutrition guidelines were followed and diversity in food selection was key, "I make sure the products align with the school nutrition guidelines and ensure we have a wide variety of items to test (i.e. breakfast items, lunch entrees, grain choices, fruit options, etc.)." Ten schools participated in the event which served up enthusiasm alongside samples, and Training Supervisor Rolandria Dunlap, who coordinated the Food Show said the feedback is invaluable, this approach embodies a spirit of inclusiveness and active participation by the students.
Vendor involvement was a highlight too, with Veronica Alcatraz Saucedo, owner of Fresh Start Healthy Meals, expressing her joy in participating for the third consecutive year, "This is going to be our third year at this event. Every year is so exciting because we've seen the band play,” she told MSCS. Saucedo also highlighted the importance of introducing culturally diverse meals to students.
Student feedback mirrored the importance placed on food diversity and engagement; Southwind High School tenth grader Demarcus said, "My favorite thing about Southwind is the community,” and lauded the vendors for their friendliness and the variety of foods they offered, clearly enjoying the chance to shape his school's menu, according to the same MSCS interview. Concurrently, tenth grader Marcos Luis from Southwind’s culinary program shared his first-time excitement for such involvement declaring “From all my years in school, it’s my first time doing something like this and I’m really excited."
Southwind High's media team ensured a spirited atmosphere, playing music throughout the day, as raffles and other interactive features contributed to the show's vibrancy. In keeping with a community-spirited conclusion, Clean Memphis collected any leftover food and donated it to Merge Memphis, preventing waste and supporting those in need. The Food Show therefore not only brings a hands-on experience to students but also highlights MSCS's commitment to community and sustainability.
For those interested in sharing their own stories about a MSCS student, teacher, or school, MSCS invites emails at [email protected] with the school name, details, and an SCSK12.ORG email for follow-up.
