PICTURED:Students will be able to choose from a variety of foods in the cafeteria, which leads to better nutrition and less food wastage.
David Goldstein
While school classrooms were closed as the pandemic spread, most Ventura County schools maintained their cafeterias open. Some school staff worked harder than ever for several months. Cafeteria workers prepared and distributed grab-and-go bags of meals to children. This provided vital nutrition for health and fuelled remote learning brains. But it also created packaging and food waste.
Many schools have switched to more efficient methods of serving food now that the kids are back in school. These cafeterias offer food rather than serving it to reduce waste.
Linda Jordan, Ojai Unified School district’s public information officer, said, “Kids have a choice.” They have two options: they can either grab one of the fruits or visit the salad bar after they pass the vegetables. She explained that offering kids options, rather than giving them a pre-selected meal, leads to better nutrition and less food wastage.
Schools often use share tables to reduce their waste. Some children will refuse to eat the items they have chosen after making their choices. Instead of throwing away their food and milk cartons in the trash, they place them on a table where others can see them. Children who don’t want to eat lunch or who want more can take what they want.
According to Graciela Garcia, who manages food inspections at the Ventura County Environmental Health Division, share tables are encouraged. As long it is done safely . . [measures such as share tables]She suggested that we reduce waste and give food to those who are in greatest need.
Nance Shirley from Pleasant Valley School District, was the food service supervisor. She pointed out a minor issue with school waste reduction programs. Michelle Obama championed the 2012 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which set federal requirements for kids lunches, and required each child to receive specific types of food. This is one of the reasons why offer and serve includes more than just a buffet. It is also why in some districts the share table is located in the lunch area but technically not in the cafeteria. The item was provided as long as the child left school with the piece of fruit and the carton of milk. The school cannot be held responsible for the child’s consumption.
Schools have other options to ensure healthy eating habits for their students. Jordan confided that our staff has become quite adept at incorporating fruits, vegetables and other ingredients into entrees.
There are many differences between school districts. It is up to the principal to decide whether or not a district has a waste management program. Lisa McCullough is an environmental resource analyst at the Ventura County Integrated Waste Management Division. She has helped schools establish recycling programs and has worked with children to help them categorize their waste streams. She explained that full and partially filled milk cartons are often the largest and most heavy component of the waste stream in schools that require milk to meet federal funding requirements.
Many schools have share tables that are too small to handle large quantities of unopened milk cartons. In these cases, cafeteria staff clean the cartons and return them to the fridge before they spoil. In some cases, ice sheets are used on share tables to keep items at the required temperature before they are put back in refrigerators.
Some schools will donate food scraps to food pantries and food banks, although this is not common. Garcia pointed out that the California Code of Regulations, Retail Food Code, specifically authorizes local educational institutions, including the county office of Education, a local charter school or a school district, to donate to a foodbank or other nonprofit charitable organization for distribution.
Spirit of Santa Paula, a shelter operator, recently sent a refrigerated truck in order to pick up 64 cartons of yogurt that were near expiration, but safe to eat at a school cafeteria.
You can apply the waste reduction lessons learned in schools to your home. If you invite guests or have dinner with your family, it will be less waste to let them choose their own food and portions.
David Goldstein, Environmental Resource Analyst at the Ventura County Public Works Agency can be reached at [email protected]or 805-658-4322.