Taste Testing, Training and New Recipes Focus of STMA Food Service Program
Find out how the food service staff in the St. Michael-Albertville School District is working to address student concerns.
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Everyday, Dolores Helgeson, director of the food service program for St. Michael-Albertville School District, works to make sure students are happy with their food.
And in addition to satisfaction, Helgeson wants to curb the obesity epidemic washing over America.
“Besides serving nutritious meals, the goal of the school nutrition program is to help change unhealthy eating habits and reverse the obesity epidemic that threatens the health of children and ultimately their health as an adult,” Helgeson told Patch. “We are committed to serving meals that students will eat and enjoy despite the challenges of getting students to try different fruits and vegetables, changing recipes and reducing calories.”
It’s no secret that some St. Michael-Albertville High School students are upset with the food served during lunch.
Readers React: STMA Student Body, Parents Discuss School Lunch Issue
“I love fruit, but quality fruit,” one student said in a recent Patch article. “It's hard to find a banana that is ripe, and apples that aren't bruised.”
But Helgeson wants to be clear: Preparing thousands of meals a day for teenagers who may be picky eaters to start with is no easy task.
“Imagine a family preparing meals for four, six or eight family members and satisfying what sometimes can be picky eaters,” Helgeson said. “ We prepare almost 4,000 meals daily to those same children.”
In a recent presentation made at a St. Michael-Albertville School District meeting, Helgeson noted that meeting everyone’s expectations is a work in progress. According to her presentation, Helgeson and her staff are constantly looking for ways to improve recipes through taste testing, on-going training and working with vendors to introduce new products.
“We will continue to make changes as we try and match what the students want to eat within what the federal guidelines allow,” Helgeson said.
As for the sweet potato fries that one student described as “soggy” and “tasteless,” Helgeson said vendors are working on it.
“Vendors are playing catch up with such items as sweet potato fries and we are continuing to learn how best to prepare the items,” Helgeson said.
If you're a student and are concerned about the lunch you receive, Helgeson suggests bringing the lunch back to the kitchen manager immediately so staff can address and replace the item.
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Mel
7:38 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
I think Dolores Helgeson is doing a great job. Not too many would take her place! One thing we, as parents, can do is remind our children that the school cafeteria is not a restaurant! They should try each item -- some they'll like, some they won't. The only reason they should return the tray to the kitchen is if there is something actually wrong with the food. Let's stand behind our schools and the good they are trying to do instead of tearing them down every chance we get.
Samara Postuma
8:16 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Well said, Mel! I agree, the cafeteria isn't a restaurant and when I think of how hard it is to appease my family of six at home, I can only imagine serving 4000.
Willow
9:55 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Right on, Mel. The kids need to understand that we eat to fuel and nourish our bodies, not to please our tastebuds. If it IS yummy, well, BONUS! But that's not the main goal. My family learned last night that in some countries, people eat mud just so that their bellies feel full because don't don't have real food to eat. Maybe our kids need to be shown just how good they really do have it. Thanks for doing such a great job, Ms. Helgeson!!!
Scott Klinkhammer
12:06 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
My kids are read the lunch menu each morning before school, and if they don't like what is offered, then they can bring a cold lunch. As was said before, it's literally impossible to please all 4,000 kids, and I feel Ms. Helgeson and her staff do a great job with the resorces they are given. Parents need to be parents, and quit blaming everyone else for their children's problems with school lunches. If they don't like what's offered, BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH!!!!!!!
Susan Barthel
1:08 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Be thankful we have a government that subsidizes funding to provide low-income families with free and reduced meals, and also reasonable costs for hot lunches for those who can afford it. The overhead must be enormous with the cost of operating and having a kitchen provided, maintaining all the equipment, ordering food and clean-up, finding cooks, accounting for every detail of operation and reducing waste.
The students are all scheduled at a particular time for each of several lunch periods and the kitchen staff must have every item prepared and ready to serve. I cannot imagine the work and frenzy going into this, and with little thanks and appreciation. The schools OFFER lunch programs...isn't it the responsibility of parents to provide for their children in all aspects of life? I can understand those parents who absolutely need the assistance from government and who do appreciate it and should get it.
What I don't understand are complaints from people who can afford expensive items for their children and expect others take care of their kids beyond their jobs. By the way, my daughter liked the sweet potato fries and ate them because she knew they were nutritious. Be gracious and thankful, please.
jeannine
2:37 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
Dolores is great at what she does! It's so great to see the much healthier meals in our schools! My child loves school lunch. I appreciate the district striving for healthier meals thus healthier kids. What a blessing it is to be able to have a meal--many children are without meals, even that consisting of a bruised banana. Our society's intake of too much food is an epidemic! Now is a good time to teach portion control and the importance of a well rounded healthy meal! Keep up the good work STMA!
STMA Student's Parent
9:23 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
I am the parent of the student that says, “I love fruit, but quality fruit,” one student said in a recent Patch article. “It's hard to find a banana that is ripe, and apples that aren't bruised.”
...and then the next sentence states how Delores wants to make it clear that preparing thousands of meals a day for teenagers who may be picky eaters to start with is no easy task.
I don't feel that asking for fruit that is ripe (green banana) or an apple that is not bruised constitutes someone as "picky".
You know the lunches are good when the teachers decide to have hot lunch that day.