Lunch takers up in Libertyville District 70

More students are ordering a healthier lunch option introduced this year in Libertyville District 70 elementary schools.

School officials aren’t exactly sure why but more meals are being served and a higher percentage of students are choosing to buy lunches that offer more nutritious options.

Taste, texture, and the variety of having something new may all have factored into the uptick.

“Kids are all about what food looks like. No matter how picky a child is, fresh always has to taste better,” said school board member Maryann Ovassapian, a nurse by occupation.

For all four elementary schools, the percentage of students eating a hot lunch rose from about 17 percent in December 2009 to about 24 percent in December 2010.

That equates to about 4,100 lunches last December compared to about 3,100 in December 2009, according to figures provided by the district. Sales are showing an average increase of 30 percent per month over last year.

That’s encouraging news for the district, which changed its lunch provider for the 2010-11 school year. Field trips and even taste-testing were done before Chartwells School Dining Services was selected.

“Parents just wanted healthier choices and we made that a priority,” said Ovassapian, who has two kids in District 70 schools.

This year, students have two entree choices rather than one and there are no deep fried offerings. French fries are baked rather than fried and pasta noodles and pizza dough are made from whole wheat rather regular flour, for example. More vegetables also are being included.

“It’s as healthy as we can get it,” said Kurt Valentin, the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations.

The number of students who will be ordering lunch are finalized on a given morning and the food is taken to Highland Middle School, where it’s cooked and put in heated or cooled containers for distribution to the elementary schools.

“Last year, it was made off site, flash frozen, delivered here and reheated,” Valentin said.

Data from Highland Middle School was not included because the food last year was provided a la carte. Valentin said sixth- and seventh-graders are buying the lunches. Eighth-graders don’t seem as interested, however, although it is the same food served at Libertyville High School, he added.

Healthier choices are getting closer attention in many schools. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that one-third of all children ages 6 to 19 years old are considered overweight or obese.

“I’m really proud of this. This was good work,” Ovassapian said.