There are countless children across the country who depend on school meals for a significant portion of their nutrition every day. Traditionally, schools have been on tight budgets, so they have widely relied on meals that are prepared in advance. Now, there are a lot of schools that have realized that it might be more affordable for them to prepare meals from scratch.
By preparing meals from scratch, it is possible to provide students with access to better nutrition. There are several important reasons why it is better to serve freshly prepared meals to students in grades K through 12, and there are a few points that teachers and administrators need to keep in mind to make it happen at an affordable price.
School Food Reform & Grant Money
Schools across the country, particularly those located in the midwest, have realized that it is better to provide students with access to freshly prepared meals every day. Technology has advanced significantly in recent years, making it easier for schools to provide students with fresh meals. Furthermore, the federal government has invested tens of millions of dollars in grants to provide schools with access to new equipment that can make it easier for them to provide their students with the meals they need.
Schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program are given preference when applying for money that comes out of this grant pool, but there are plenty of funds to go around. Many of them have made it easier for school administrators to implement scratch cooking for students, with many meals being made from ingredients that come from the local area. This equipment can also make it easier for students to preserve those fresh ingredients longer, ensuring that they reduce food spoilage while providing students with delicious, nutritious fresh meals every day.
The Benefits of Healthy, Freshly Prepared School Meals
There are several significant reasons why children should have access to freshly prepared meals every day. First, meals that are prepared fresh have fewer preservatives, meaning that they are significantly healthier for children. When children have access to fresh meals every day, they also have more energy, meaning that they have an easier time focusing in the classroom. This can make a significant difference in their academic performance.
When schools are willing to invest in freshly prepared meals, they support the local economy. Many of the ingredients for these meals come from local sources, so the money goes back into the community. Finally, when schools prepare their meals fresh every day, they protect the environment by relying on food that has been grown locally. For all of these reasons, schools should provide their students with meals prepared from scratch, and that means having the right equipment.
Want to learn more about what equipment works in school cafeterias to help serve fresh meals? Click below to schedule time with Heartland Reps chefs in one of our four test kitchens in Missouri and Nebraska.
Versatile Equipment
It is important for schools to have access to versatile equipment that can provide their students with a wide range of nutrition opportunities. That means investing in comprehensive solutions, starting with exceptional serving counters. Having sterile, clean Multiteria serving counters, combined with durable Atlas Metal serving counters, can provide schools with a sturdy foundation on which to prepare their meals.
Then, schools also need to have access to high-powered, reliable mixers, such as the Varimixer Kodiak mixer, which is capable of preparing a wide variety of meals for breakfast and lunch. There are also situations where schools may need to rely on Blodgett convection ovens for high-volume cooking, or Market Forge steamers to give kids access to nutritious vegetables. All of these meals can be delivered via Lakeside delivery carts before cleaning everything efficiently and sustainably using Champion dishwasher machines.
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