Energizing Students with School Meals
Energizing Students with School Meals
Jul 06, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitter

Proper nutrition is essential to a growing child’s development. Students spend an average of 180 days at school, meaning the meals consumed on campus significantly impact their healthy lives. Also, as many children across the US have both breakfast and lunch at school, it is essential that they have access to healthy and delicious food options. “Nutritious school meals give America’s children the foundation for successful, healthy lives,” said Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack in a press statement earlier this year.

Ketchup is Not a Vegetable

Research shows that school children most often receive their healthiest meals of the day at school. As a result, school nutrition standards were updated in 2010 with meal requirements emphasizing whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products; while limiting sodium and unhealthy fats. This was the first time in 15 years that nutrition standards were updated with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

This past fall, it was announced that even more improvements must be made to school lunches over the next two school years. Chocolate milk drinkers rejoice; schools may now offer flavored low-fat milk in addition to nonfat flavored milk and nonfat or low-fat unflavored milk. In addition, at least of 80% of the grains served at breakfast and lunch must be considered rich in whole grains, which is the saddest thing to happen to sliced bread in decades. Finally, by the 2023-2024 school year, the weekly sodium limits for breakfast and lunch must be decreased by 10%.

Food is Brain Power

School meal programs are linked with classroom improvements and student test scores. Students participating in school breakfast programs have improved attendance, behavior, and academic performance. Being provided healthy, well-balanced meals while growing up will fuel their bodies and brains and set them up to make wise food choices in the future when they have to make those choices themselves.

Currently, one in five children between 6 and 19 suffers from obesity. Ensuring students consume healthier meals at least once a day is a great way to combat this statistic. This is also an excellent opportunity to teach students about proper nutrition, and that healthy food can still be delicious! For example, sweet potato fries cooked in an oven, like the Ovention MiLO are a better choice than French fries deep-fried in oil.

School Cafeteria to Student

The creativity of school food programs that understand what works well for their students while meeting these nutritional requirements will be crucial. While reimagining the food served in your school cafeteria, explore options to make your kitchen more efficient. For example, Goshen High School feeds about 1,000 students daily for lunch. They discovered that baking pizzas in an Ovention Shuttle instead of their traditional convection oven allowed them to cook a pizza in two and a half minutes vs. 12-14 minutes. This is a huge time saver when you’re serving that many students a day!

Ovention Ovens Make It Easy
Shuttle® NEW 2600! 2000/1600/1200
Shuttle® NEW 2600! 2000/1600/1200

If you value precision and volume, Ovention has the perfect oven to fit your operation. The Shuttle sets the new standard for conveyor ovens everywhere. No other oven can operate as both a conveyor and a closed-cavity oven.

Matchbox® 1718/1313
Matchbox® 1718/1313

Cook a full menu of delicious offerings without an oven hood. The Ovention Matchbox 1718/1313 takes the traditional conveyor oven to a whole new level.

Conveyor 2600/2000/1400
Conveyor 2600/2000/1400

Simple, smart and the right fit for operators looking for a high-throughput conveyor oven. The Ovention Conveyor Oven is the most technologically elegant and operator-friendly conveyor on the market today.

Matchbox® M360 14/12
Matchbox® M360 14/12

Cook a full menu better, faster, and easier. The Ovention Matchbox M360 has Precision Impingement® technology, a unique cooking carousel, and a small footprint, making it the perfect fit for any operation.

Finishing F1400
Finishing F1400

Finish your plates with ease and precision with this robust IR finishing conveyor. Melt, sear, toast, and finish to perfection with this operator-friendly, quiet conveyor.

MiLO® Double/Single
MiLO® Double/Single

Revolutionary infusion of Decoupled Air and Infrared (IR) technologies. Independently controlled top and bottom cavities, each with its own interior light and control panel.

MiSA®‑a12
MiSA®‑a12

Introducing MiSA; Microwave Speed Assist. Higher quality, higher speed, smaller footprint.

Related
New Oven Tech for Stress-Free Cooking
Sep 27, 2023

We’re not living in sky houses like the Jetsons, but we’ve still adapted much of the same technology in 2022. […]

Celebrating 10 Years of Ovention Ovens in the Hatco Corporation Family
Jul 12, 2023

This July 2023, we’re celebrating our tenth anniversary as part of the Hatco Corporation family, marking the occasion by reflecting […]

How Restaurant Technology Can Help with Staff Shortages
Jul 01, 2023

It’s no secret that the service industry has struggled to find employees over the last few years. While many people […]

Schedule an Ovention Ovens Demo

Our goal is to partner with you to help you build your business. We will set up a demonstration that suits your needs, whether you want us to cook your current product, show you a range of new products, or do a side-by-side comparison with another oven we are ready to show you what Ovention can do.

Please complete ALL the fields below to schedule a demo.*

Find a Rep Near You

Experience an Ovention oven in action. We have test kitchens all across the country and representatives waiting to demonstrate our award-winning technology and ease of use. Contact us today to learn how one of our ovens can elevate your culinary versatility and build your business.

Cooked with Conveyor 2600/2000

0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop