Patriot H.S. Hosts Annual Food Show, Previews Healthier Menu

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Parents try to make sure their children eat healthy, but they cannot be sure what those children are eating when they are at school. That is why Prince William County Schools holds its Annual Food Show. The event allows students, their parent and staff members to vote on which foods they like, and helps dieticians at the Kelly Center craft menus for the upcoming school year.

This week The Prince William County Schools Annual Food Show was held on Tues., Mar 13 at Patriot High School from 6-8 p.m. For those who missed it, there will be a second night of food tasting on Mar. 15 also from 6-8 p.m.

This was the first time that the food tasting was held on the western end of the county, according to the Director of Food and Nutrition Services for P.W.C.S. Serena Suthers. Suthers said Patriot provided the ideal facilities for this kind of event, even though it is not centrally located in the county.

She also explained that it is also a monumental year for the Annual Food Show, since new menu requirements by the Food and Drug Administration take effect in 2013. Regulations require schools include more dark green or orange vegetables in school lunches, said Suthers.

These vitamin packed veggies will replace starchy vegetables, meaning French fries or tatter tots will no long pass muster. In addition P.W.C.S. will be offering lower sodium versions of meals, more bean dishes and plant-based foods as well.

While it appears that food choices are getting healthier, a visit to the Patriot cafeteria proved to many parents and children, that school lunches in the county are also getting tastier.

“We’ve gone four years in a row. This is the best one by far. There is definitely a variety. The quality seems better- not as processed tasting,” said mother of two, Cyndi Sebben. “We have good kids; they try anything, and they seem to like quite a bit of it.”

Marvine Panning was also happy with the food choices for her children.

“I like the tuna sandwich. (My daughter,) Jenna likes the Sun Butter Sandwich,” said Panning.

Panning said she would be very happy if her children ate this way for lunch, but still questioned whether her children will choose fruits and vegetables. Jenna, who attends Gravely Elementary, said she do not often eat fruits and vegetable at school.

Yet dieticians at Prince William County have made a sincere effort to make their fruits and vegetables more exciting this year, adding complex salads, complete with fresh apples, onions and cucumbers as well as sweet and tangy balsamic-based dressings.

While parents boosted about the Southwest Salad, Baja Fish Tacos and Black Bean Torilla Melt, some children were less than convinced by these healthy offerings. However, most parents and children could agreed that Honey Fire Chicken, Apple Cinnamon Sticks and Banana Bread were delicious.

Kids regularly chose pizza as one of their favorite, but even that staple was getting a healthy makeover with whole-grain crust, low-sodium tomato sauce and low-fat cheese, according to Suthers. While tasters got to choose between Unos or Dominos pizza, both of those vendors offered healthier versions than they ordinarily served at their restaurants as their traditional pizzas.

Teen Samantha Fowler student at Osbourne Park High School lamented some of the healthier choices.

“I liked four things, but I’m not a big fan of fruit or fish,” said Samantha.

“I think they are trying to go healthier and add more vegetables and protein,” said Samantha’s mother, Jennifer Fowler, teacher at Pace West.

Samantha also said that the school food currently served in her cafeteria is not as good as the food presented at the tasting.

“This cheese ravioli is the closest thing (to our food),” Samantha said.

Samantha’s voice will be heard, because according to Suthers, the students' input weighs heavily, because if they do not eat the food it will end up in the garbage.

Suthers also said that the transition from 2012 to 2013 school year, “Won’t be a tremendous change,” because they have been gradually incorporating more healthy dishes onto their breakfast and lunch menus.

Those would like to attend the Food Tasting on Mar. 15, should call for reservations at 703-791-7314.

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