Killeen ISD School Nutrition reached deep into its target audience Thursday, hosting its fourth annual Food Fest to gauge the taste buds of second- through 12th-grade customers.
This year’s event took place at Shoemaker High School. It started with students from Maxdale Elementary School, followed by Palo Alto Middle School and ended with high school students.
The food fest was organized like a vendor fair with tables arranged in the lobby of the auditorium.
When Maxdale, then Palo Alto and then Shoemaker students made their way to the raised lobby, they received lanyards and bags similar to a corporate showcase.
Next, they wandered among the tables, filling plates with prepared food items and slipping wrapped to-go offerings into their bags.
Music played and students gathered around tall tables and in chairs or on steps to sample the food and drink from 14 vendors as school nutrition employees observed and asked questions.
“Today we are hosting a food show and it’s really special that we bring in all the students in this process with elementary, middle and high school,” said school district dietician Dominique Johnson.
“They can try different foods, and their input helps guide what the menus are going to be like in the future. Our great meals don’t happen by accident. They happen with input from the students.”
Maxdale fourth-grader Taylah Green liked the hot chicken, blueberry pancakes and fruit.
“We’re trying foods to see what we might have next year. I’m happy to be here,” she said.
Palo Alto eighth-grader DJ Leshore is a fan of the burgers and pizza at his school cafeteria and said he expected even more tasty options next year in high school.
“I like the mozzarella sticks and the chicken tenders,” he said of the samples he tried.
“I’m honored to be here. I didn’t have breakfast today, so this is good. I’ve been with my friends all day today and we like the food.
“It’s very cool. It will be better for kids if they have food they like and they will ask for an extra tray.”
“They are happy to be here,” Johnson said. “They enjoy trying the new foods. We love it. That’s what this is all about. Feeding good, nutritious food to our students.”
Photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720332360385