Hemet Unified School District Successes, Challenges and Opportunities

24 Schools 21,157 Students 75% F&R Eligibility 4 million meals/year 700 square miles Rich history of farming, especially citrus 50% Hispanic Many students are English language learners

Feeding Children  Central Kitchen  Cook chill system  Bakery  Pizza Department  Salads & Subs  Warehouse  Freezers & Refrigerators  80% Scratch  Kitchens on Site  Ovens  Warmers  Freezers & Refrigerators  Knives & Cutting Boards!  30-40% “Speed Scratch”

Successes  Farm to School  Started in 2009  47% of produce purchased locally  Local: <50 miles from central kitchen  Better quality  Lower or same price  Kid approved!

Successes  Salad Bars  16 bars donated through SB2S  Currently in 3 schools  Kids, parents and teachers love them!  More Choice  Less waste

Successes  Healthier US Schools Challenge  All 14 of our elementary schools won  13 GAoD, 1 Silver  Most GAoD in CA  4 th most is US!

HHFKA Challenges

Fruits and Vegetables  Subgroups  Waste  Cost  Time to Eat

Grains and Proteins  Whole Grains  Menu Variety  Portion Sizes  Vegetarian Options

Competitive Foods  SB12 & SB965 since 2006  Compliance Issues

Opportunities

At the Local Level…  Wellness Policy with language on nutrition standards & competitive foods  Get parents and students involved  Market fruits and vegetables  Offer nutrition education  Get creative with menu design  Ask for help!  Apply for recognition

State and Federal Level…  Mandate longer lunch periods  Allow districts to build and finance Nutrition Centers/Central Kitchens  Include nutrition in standardized testing  Properly fund school athletics  Establish repercussions for the entities that violate Competetive Food Standards

Do what’s right for kids