Commissioner Miller Kicks Off National School Lunch Week (10/9/2017)

COMMISSIONER MILLER KICKS OFF NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK

TDA and Texas schools serve up a celebration of healthy meals and good nutrition

AUSTIN – Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today announced the start of National School Lunch Week, which runs Oct. 9 to 13, and emphasizes the value of leading healthy lifestyles to Texas students. In partnership with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), every school day, Texas schools serve approximately 3 million healthy meals through the National School Lunch Program. During National School Lunch Week, school nutrition professionals across the Lone Star State will use TDA resources and this year’s theme Rock the Day with a Healthy School Lunch to remind students that eating nutritious meals in the school cafeteria fuels academic success.

“I am always excited to celebrate healthy school meals and all the people preparing and serving them,” Commissioner Miller said. “Every year, National School Lunch Week brings excitement to the cafeteria with new foods and special activities. This week, we are asking students to Rock the Day with a Healthy School Lunch and see how good nutrition can make a difference for a school day and for a lifetime.”

National School Lunch Week adds to an already exciting month for school nutrition that includes TDA’s Local Products Challenge (Challenge). All month, the Challenge encourages schools to incorporate more Texas products into menus. For National School Lunch Week, TDA provided schools with National School Lunch Week menus featuring recipes using Texas agricultural products. These efforts support TDA’s Farm Fresh Initiative and make Texas agriculture an integral part of the school cafeteria experience for young Texans.

Also, TDA’s National School Lunch Week resources feature artwork from the annual You Art What You Eat! statewide student art contest. The winning students’ artwork inspired the designs used on posters, flyers and social media ads, along with the selfie stations that high school students will use to show their support for school lunches. Elementary schools will use TDA’s participation charts to get students on board with eating a heathy school lunch.

Schools can also participate in “National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day” on Oct. 11. Students and schools are encouraged to invite parents to try delicious and healthy foods offered in the school cafeteria to celebrate National School Lunch Week this Wednesday.

TDA initiatives and celebrations for National School Lunch Week offer students and parents new ways to explore healthy lifestyle choices. These partnerships ensure our future leaders of Texas understand that learning about good nutrition can be fun, exciting and educational.

To learn more about National School Lunch Week and TDA’s other healthy living initiatives, visit

SquareMeals.org.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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