SPRINGVILLE – Leading the way and recognized nationally as Lunch Trailblazers in School nutrition, S-GI Culinary has advanced school meals through innovation and strengthened their Farm to School connections locally through the USDA SCALES grant.
S-GI Culinary was awarded the School Food Authority Lunch Trailblazer Award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids, Springville-Griffith Institute Central School District received the School Food Authority Lunch Trailblazer Award, a distinction that highlights innovation and leadership in school nutrition. This national award acknowledges the commitment of our culinary professionals to providing high-quality, nutritious meals that support student success.
“By embracing creativity, incorporating local foods, creating scratch menu items, and continually enhancing the dining experience, our team demonstrates excellence in meeting the needs of our school community,” S-GI Culinary Director Laura Watson said. “We also feel that all students have a voice and invite them to be a part of our ‘Little hands, Big Ideas’ focus groups to discuss menu ideas. Our team has also advanced our farm-to school connections through our work with the USDA Scales grant. We are proud to be a leader in advancing school meal programs and grateful for the recognition of our continued dedication to nourishing students.”
As an award recipient, S-GI will also receive national and local recognition and travel stipends to attend a national Healthy Meals Summit.
“We congratulate Springville-Griffith Institute CSD on this important achievement,” Rob Bisceglie said, Executive Officer and President for Action for Healthy Kids. “The HMI Recognition Awards are an opportunity to showcase innovative school nutrition practices that provide children with access to nutritious school meals.”
“One of America’s best opportunities to improve child health is through supporting schools in providing tasty and nutritious meals,” Cindy Long said, administrator of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. “This Recognition Award highlights the remarkable achievements Springville-Griffith Institute has made in offering healthy meals that students enjoy, and we look forward to them sharing their best practices to help other schools follow in their footsteps.” Long added that each school day, USDA school meal programs reach around 30 million children from all communities and backgrounds across the country.
AFHK is recognizing school districts to spotlight innovative practices, student and community engagement activities, and strategies schools have used to provide meals that are consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – all as part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the USDA FNS’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. Learn more about the Healthy Meals Incentives at www.healthymealsincentives.org.
Healthy school meals are an essential part of the school environment and a proven tool for improving a child’s health, growth, development and educational outcomes. AFHK and USDA are committed to working together to strengthen school meals and investment in a bright future for our children.
