Taste-testers sample thirty new items for next year’s menu

“My favorite is everything,” announced one elementary-school student, and her sentiments were echoed by many of the youngsters who showed up at last month’s Food Show to sample the new menu offerings. The commons area of Forest Park High School was packed full of taste-testers trying everything from toasty-warm breakfast bagels to fresh-cut cucumber spears with dressing to baked oatmeal with cherries, and everyone seemed delighted to share their opinion on what foods best pleased the palate.

“This is something my kids love to do each year,” said a parent with three boys in tow. “They really look forward to tasting the food and giving their opinions.”

The 16th Annual County School Food Show served up thirty new breakfast and lunch offerings in style, and everyone from elementary students to school administrators turned out to name their favorites for next year’s menu. Up for the test were several healthier alternatives to popular favorites such as pizza and corndogs, as well as a selection of fresh fruit and vegetable options. White-meat alternatives were also explored at this year’s event, as turkey barbecue and turkey sausage patties were included on the list for taste critics to try.

Serena Suthers, director of food services, says that many of the new foods introduced at the show were selected specifically to increase the number of healthy choices available to the students. She notes that the taste results of the nine whole-grain items are of special interest to her.

“I really hope the kids like foods like the pizza. It’s a whole-grain crust but if they see brown bread they often shy away,” says Suthers. “This is a good way for us to introduce new foods into their diet, but it’s really all about what the kids like and what they’ll eat.”

Just as the student body at PWCS is diverse, so are the palettes of those who attended this tasting event. Trying to find a favorite food for the masses proves tough when some kids preferred popcorn chicken while others named fish filets as their top choice. Of course, pizza was often listed as a favorite amongst the youngsters, and the philly cheese steak pocket station seemed to have a crowd around it throughout the event. Still, it was hard to peg a clear taste winner, suggesting that perhaps getting children to eat healthier won’t be as difficult a task as once expected.

Results from the food shows will directly determine what’s available for breakfast and lunch next year. “Whatever they like we add to the menu,” says Suthers. With any luck, many of the whole-grain and healthy alternatives from the evenings’ presentations will be available for everyone in September 2006.

To learn more about the 16 th Annual Food Shows, watch the School Focus feature on Comcast Channel 21. Visit PWCS-TV ’s Web site for show times and listings.

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