Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), Dillon Elementary School District #10 is proud to have received the Innovative School Lunch Makeover Award for our commitment to creating healthier, more engaging meal experiences for our students.
Our journey began with the launch of “Taste Test Thursday,” a weekly initiative to introduce new meals and involve students directly in shaping their school lunch experience. Each Thursday, students sampled a new meal and cast their votes on whether it should be added to the regular menu. We also invited them to submit their own meal suggestions, creating a valuable feedback loop that helped guide our efforts. While some meals didn’t make the cut, others became instant favorites. One standout success — and the meal that earned us this recognition — was our Italian Meatball Sandwich. Crafted from scratch using our own recipe, the handmade meatballs are free of preservatives and excess sodium. Though it’s a labor-intensive process to prepare 1,500 meatballs per serving, the students’ excitement and enthusiasm make the effort incredibly rewarding.
The Innovative School Lunch Makeover Award recognizes schools that revamp traditional lunch offerings to meet USDA meal pattern requirements and dietary specifications, while meaningfully incorporating student input. We’re honored to be among the recipients and remain committed to serving nutritious, student-approved meals every day.
“We congratulate Dillon Elementary School District #10 on this important achievement,” said Rob Bisceglie, Executive Officer & President for Action for Healthy Kids. “The HMI Recognition Awards are an opportunity to showcase innovative school nutrition practices that provide children with access to nutritious school meals,” he added.
AFHK is recognizing school districts to spotlight innovative practices, student and community engagement activities, and strategies schools have used to provide meals that are consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – all as part of a cooperative agreement to develop and implement the USDA FNS’s Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. Learn more about the Healthy Meals Incentives at www.healthymealsincentives.org.
Healthy school meals are an essential part of the school environment and a proven tool for improving a child’s health, growth, development, and educational outcomes. AFHK and USDA are committed to working together to strengthen school meals and invest in a bright future for our children.