FOOD FOR THOUGHT WHERE NUTRITION MEETS KNOWLEDGE
OCT 2026
Tast an e tha th Lor i goo; blesse i th on wh take efug i hi. Pal 34:8 Taste
O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6 | E X P LO R I N G N E W F O O D S W E LC O M E TO T H E O C TO B E R I S S U E O F F O O D F O R T H O U G H T, O U R M O N T H LY N U T R I T I O N E D U C AT I O N N E W S L E T T E R F R O M T H E G R A P E V I N E FA I T H C H R I S T I A N S C H O O L FOOD SERVICES TEAM. L A S T M O N T H , W E E X P LO R E D H O W F O O D P ROV I D E S T H E F U E L S T U D E N T S N E E D TO G R O W , T H I N K , A N D P L AY. T H I S M O N T H , W E A R E B U I L D I N G O N T H AT F O U N D AT I O N B Y H E L P I N G S T U D E N T S B E C O M E M O R E C O M F O R TA B L E E X P L O R I N G U N FA M I L I A R F O O D S .
TRYING NEW FOODS: CONFIDENCE COMES FIRST TRYING SOMETHING UNFAMILIAR CAN FEEL LIKE A BIG STEP, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS. A NEW FOOD MAY HAVE ANUNEXPECTED COLOR, SMELL, TEXTURE, TEMPERATURE, OR FLAVOR. HESITATION DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN A STUDENT WILL NEVER ENJOY IT. IT MAY SIMPLY MEAN THE FOOD IS STILL UNFAMILIAR. STUDENTS, AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL, OFTEN NEED REPEATED OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE A FOOD BEFORE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE EATING IT. LOOKING AT IT, SMELLING IT, TOUCHING IT, AND TASTING A SMALL AMOUNT CAN ALL BE MEANINGFUL PARTS OF THE LEARNING PROCESS. OUR GOAL IS NOT TO PRESSURE STUDENTS INTO CLEANING THEIR PLATES OR FORCE THEM TO ENJOY EVERY FOOD. WE WANT TO CREATE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THAT ALLOW CURIOSITY AND CONFIDENCE TO GROW OVER TIME.
EXPLORING NEW FOODS AT SCHOOL
BOTH CAFETERIAS GIVE STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE NEW FOODS WHILE STILL CHOOSING FAMILIAR ITEMS THEY ENJOY. ROTATING ENTRÉES, VEGETABLES, FRUITS, SAUCES, TOPPINGS, AND REGIONAL FLAVORS ALLOW STUDENTS TO ENCOUNTER SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITHOUT MAKING THE ENTIRE MEAL UNFAMILIAR. AT WORTH STREET, STUDENTS CAN SELECT THE FEATURED MEAL WHILE PAIRING A NEW ITEM WITH A FAMILIAR FRUIT, SIDE, OR ENTRÉE CHOICE. HIGH SCHOOL DINING AREAS PROVIDE MORE WAYS TO EXPLORE: HERITAGE KITCHEN | TRADITION HERITAGE KITCHEN OFFERS FAMILIAR MEALS AND CLASSIC FAVORITES. THIS PROVIDES A COMFORTABLE STARTING POINT FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY WANT TO ADD ONE NEW VEGETABLE, SIDE, SAUCE, OR FLAVOR TO A MEAL THEY ALREADY RECOGNIZE. FRESH & FUEL | WELLNESS FRESH & FUEL ALLOWS STUDENTS TO BUILD MEALS FROM PROTEINS, VEGETABLES, FRUITS, SALADS, AND OTHER SELECTIONS. THE CUSTOMIZABLE FORMAT GIVES STUDENTS GREATER CONTROL OVER HOW MUCH OF A NEW ITEM THEY PLACE ON THEIR PLATE. LION’S DEN EXPRESS | CONVENIENCE LION’S DEN EXPRESS INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO ROTATING SANDWICHES, WRAPS, SALADS, SNACK PACKS, PARFAITS, AND HOT SPECIALTIES. THESE OPTIONS BRING VARIETY TO THE CAFETERIA WHILE STILL REMAINING CONVENIENT AND APPROACHABLE.
O C T O B E R TA S T E T E S T C H A L L E N G E : S W E E T P O TAT O E S T W O W AY S THIS MONTH, WE ARE PLACING S W E E T P O TAT O E S I N T H E S P O T L I G H T. S W E E T P O TAT O E S A R E I N C L U D E D I N T H E U S D A’ S FA L L S E A S O N A L P R O D U C E G U I D E A N D C O N TA I N B E TA C A ROT E N E , W H I C H T H E B O DY C A N C O N V E R T I N T O V I TA M I N A . V I TA M I N A P L AY S A N I M P O R TA N T ROLE IN NORMAL VISION AND IMMUNE FUNCTION.
S T U D E N T S C A N C O M PA R P R E PA R E D T W O S
CINNAMON ROASTED
WA R M ROA S T E D S W E E FINISHED WITH
SAVORY ROASTED SW
ROASTED SWEET PO SEASONED WITH HERBS
S T U D E N T S C A N N OT I C E T T E X T U R E , A N D F L AV O R O F TA S T I N G I S E N C B U T E X P L O R AT I O N I S
T I A Hom! Tr C H O O S E O N E F O O D Y O U R FA M I LY D O E S N O T E AT R E G U L A R LY A N D S E R V E A S M A L L P O RT I O N A LO N G S I D E FA M I L I A R F O O D S . INSTEAD OF ASKING, D O YO U L I K E I T ? TRY ASKING:
E S W E E T P O TAT O E S I M P L E W AY S
SWEET POTATOES
E T P O TAT O P I E C E S CINNAMON.
WEET POTATOES
O TAT O P I E C E S AND MILD SPICES.
T H E C O LO R , A RO M A , F E A C H P R E PA R AT I O N . COURAGED, S THE REAL GOAL .
W H AT D O Y O U N O T I C E A B O U T T H E C O LO R ? I S T H E T E X T U R E S O F T, C R I S P, S M O OT H , O R C H E W Y ? D O E S T H E S M E L L R E M I N D YO U O F A N OT H E R F O O D ? W O U L D Y O U T R Y I T P R E PA R E D D I F F E R E N T LY N E X T T I M E ? Y O U C A N A L S O R E C R E AT E O U R S W E E T P O TAT O E S T W O W AY S C H A L L E N G E AT HOME. P R E PA R E H A L F W I T H C I N N A M O N A N D H A L F W I T H A S AV O R Y S E A S O N I N G , T H E N L E T E V E R YO N E D E S C R I B E T H E DIFFERENCES.
KEEP FOOD LANGUAGE NEUTRAL AND POSITIVE. F O O D S D O N OT N E E D TO B E L A B E L E D “ G O O D ,” “ B A D ,” “ H E A LT H Y,” O R “ U N H E A LT H Y ” D U R I N G E X P L O R AT I O N . D E S C R I B I N G A F O O D B Y I T S F L AV O R , T E X T U R E , C O L O R , I N G R E D I E N T S , O R P R E PA R AT I O N M E T H O D H E L P S C H I L D R E N L E A R N A B O U T I T W I T H O U T AT TA C H I N G P R E S S U R E O R J U D G M E N T.
FO
AMILIES F R
A S T U D E N T D O E S N O T H AV E T O L O V E E V E R Y F O O D . T H E V I C T O R Y M AY S I M P LY B E A L L O W I N G S O M E T H I N G N E W O N T H E P L AT E , S M E L L I N G I T, T O U C H I N G I T, O R TA K I N G O N E S M A L L TA S T E . AT S C H O O L , F O O D C O N V E R S AT I O N S A R E POSITIVE, PRESSURE FREE, AND FOCUSED ON BUILDING CONFIDENCE. T H A N K Y O U F O R PA R T N E R I N G W I T H U S A S W E HELP STUDENTS BECOME CURIOUS, INFORMED, A N D C O N F I D E N T E AT E R S .
S C I E N T I F I C R E F E R E N C E S : A M E R I C A N A C A D E M Y O F P E D I AT R I C S G U I D A N C E S U P P O R T S R E P E AT E D , L O W P R E S S U R E E X P O S U R E T O U N FA M I L I A R F O O D S . U S D A S N A P E D I D E N T I F I E S S W E E T P O TAT O E S A S S E A S O N A L FA L L P R O D U C E . T H E N AT I O N A L I N S T I T U T E S O F H E A LT H I D E N T I F I E S S W E E T P O TAT O E S A S A S O U R C E O F B E TA C A R O T E N E , W H I C H T H E B O D Y C A N C O N V E R T I N T O V I TA M I N A .
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