To recognize the National School Lunch Program and the 30 million children it serves every day, Troup County School System (TCSS) will recognize National School Lunch Week from Oct. 14-18, 2019. 

The theme, School Lunch: What’s on Your Playlist,” spotlights how today’s school cafeterias are serving up healthier menu items that kids want to eat, with increased choice and customization. 

National School Lunch Week will emphasize the healthy foods that are offered daily in TCSS schools. TCSS’s Nutrition Department is hosting a decorating competition between all schools to determine the best interpretation of the ‘School Lunch Playlist’ theme. 

“National School Lunch Week is providing us an opportunity to share about the menu items for our students. We are putting more excitement and diversity in our lunch menu. We are re-working old menu items and adding new favorites like Queso pizza,” said Diane Pain, Director of School Nutrition for TCSS in a press release from TCSS. “These scratch-based menus provide more ethnic flavors like spanish rice with chicken. Before adding any new menu item, it’s important we sample it with students. They provide the feedback and we make adjustments and add as necessary.”

According to TCSS, the school system estimates 13,000 meals are served daily, with an average 4750 breakfasts and 9,350 lunches served. 

Six elementary schools participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program – Berta Weathersbee, Ethel W. Kight, Franklin Forest, Hogansville, West Point, and Clearview. With the approved CEP program, each student at these schools can eat breakfast and lunch at no cost. TCSS again participated in the Seamless Summer Meal Program; this program provides children breakfast and lunch at a number of Troup County sites during the summer months. 

In addition, TCSS currently operates the After School Meal Program at five locations including all high schools, Franklin Forest Elementary and Hogansville Elementary. 

Two additional locations, Callaway Elementary and Callaway Middle Schools, are expected to open later this year. 

This program allows any child to receive a complete meal after school at no cost. This program serves approximately 410 students per day, but it is expected to continue to grow as students and parents become aware of it.