From the inception of Kiddos, we've championed a term close to our heart: 'Local and Sustainable'. While the world typically associates this phrase with farm-to-table produce, we saw it differently. To us, it was about embracing the heart of our communities - the local restaurants we partner with for our school lunch delivery service.
Then came the pandemic, a tumultuous period that tested our beliefs, values, and adaptability. As we saw our cherished community restaurants bearing the brunt of the crisis, our conviction in the concept of 'Local and Sustainable' grew even stronger. It was no longer just a tagline but a mission, a calling, and an undeniable truth. Through our partnerships, we aimed to weave a safety net for these restaurants, offering them a consistent avenue to reach communities. The result? Schools enjoyed high-quality school meal delivery, tons of daily choices, delicious meals, and restaurants found hope, resilience, and a path to recovery. We believe restaurant food is wholesome food for schools and both delicious and nutritious, dispelling the common myth that it's unsuitable for hot lunch service for schools. And in our journey, we've witnessed the immense talent, dedication, and commitment of local chefs, line cooks and restaurateurs who, despite the challenges, continued to whip up dishes that were wholesome, flavorful, and filled with love. Seeing the term 'Local and Sustainable' echoed elsewhere in the restaurant-based lunch service arena, it made us smile. It was not only heartwarming and flattering that others picked up on the term we adapted to our industry, but a testament to the importance and relevance of community-based sustainability. Today, with every Kiddos meal served, we reaffirm our commitment to this vision. 'Local and Sustainable' isn't just about where the food comes from but who prepares it, serving as a beacon of resilience, collaboration, and community spirit. Thank you for standing with us in this belief and for redefining 'Local and Sustainable'. Together, we are crafting a future that's delicious, nutritious, and community-driven. The lunchroom can be a place of social anxiety for many students. Not having someone to eat lunch with or being bullied in the lunchroom unfortunately still happens. Many schools have developed bullying programs, but other solutions which ensure kids aren't eating alone, are coming from students themselves.
One example comes from Sherman Oaks, California. A student created an app so bullied kids never have to eat alone. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/09/15/494074992/teen-creates-app-so-bullied-kids-never-have-to-eat-alone Another example is from a high school in Florida, where students there started a club called We Dine Together to ensure their fellow classmates have some company at lunch time. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/high-school-students-start-club-to-make-sure-no-one-sits-alone-at-lunch_us_58c6cdb6e4b0ed71826e51b8 Junk food or not junk food, healthy or not healthy, those are the questions. What is the true definition of "Junk Food" or "Healthy Food?" Everyone has their own definition of what they think is healthy. For some that may be low carb, for others, perhaps paleo or vegetarian. Each family has their own unique tastes and preferences and respecting that by offering dozens of options that satisfy each child's changing tastes and each parents unique preference, with access to healthy lunches every day, is important to us.
Would you consider a pizza, with house made dough, sauce from crushed tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, oregano, and low fat skim mozzarella cheese "Junk Food?" How about freshly made sandwiches, salads, pasta sauce, yogurt parfaits, and more for a school lunch? As the owner of a restaurant based school lunch company, from time to time I hear a parent refer to the food on our menu as "junk food" because it comes from a restaurant. We partner with restaurants that use fresh and wholesome ingredients, cooked to order. Catered lunch companies continue to rely on frozen and canned ingredients made days in advance, because unlike restaurants who have retail business in the door all day and night, caterers aren't able to go through the food quickly enough. In addition, caterers are not generally in and around the area of your school, so the food needs to be cooked days in advance, frozen and reheated. I have previously written about making sure our kids eat a balanced diet containing lean protein, fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Ideally, that is the goal, but here's the wrinkle, it doesn't matter what we pack or order our kids for lunch, they will only eat what they like, what they are used to eating and what tastes good to them. I often hear parents say, well at least if there were broccoli or fresh fruit in front of them, they are more likely to eat it then if it wasn't there. My question is... Is that the risk you want to take? Making sure our kids eat their lunch,so they're able to focus and concentrate for the balance of the school day is key. Food for thought. The holidays are just around the corner already! With the advent of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, comes the added pressure of trying to make healthy choices for yourself and your family. The Washington Post wrote a great article to give ideas of how to make healthy family meals for yourself and, more importantly, your children during this year's holiday season.
One of the greatest pieces of advice is to get your children involved in the entire process of planning, shopping and then making your holiday meals. You can start by looking together through menu books and websites to pick out ideas for side dishes that your kids give their approval for. Then, continue the journey by taking these ideas to the grocery store and giving options on veggies and fruits for your side dishes. You can even go as far as having your little ones help out in the kitchen while actually making some of your meals so the kids feel fully immersed in the holiday cooking tradition and will feel proud that they got to help out this year. This is a spectacular idea because when kids feel like they are contributing and making choices in this process they are more inclined to want to also eat the foods that you will make. Plus, if these are healthy foods, you will not only build confidence in them but also help to cultivate healthy choice making skills throughout their life. As an added bonus, you are making wonderful memories with your kids that they will carry with them. It sounds like this season could be a win-win for all! Have a happy and healthy holidays everyone! Kelly Fragassi To Read More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/tips-to-get-your-kids-through-the-holidays-graciously-and-gratefully/2014/11/11/65899c74-639d-11e4-836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html Just this past week, we at Kiddos school lunches have added PLUMS to the roster of fruit sides that come standard with most every Kiddos meal. Some of the feedback we have gotten was that "the children were confused as to what plums are". Aside from that being a very endearing piece of feedback, we decided to also take that seriously and look up some information about plums to share with you. We encourage all to read up and try a few as plums are only in season for the fall!
Fun Facts: Plums are in the same family as nectarines and peaches! Plums are also related to almonds The dried version of a plum is called a prune or a 'dried plum' Plums are packed with Vitamin C and Vitamin K Plums also help with weight loss! There are over 2,000 varities of plums in existence today Please read more in depth information about Plums in this article: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=35 Green tea has many health benefits; ones that are especially important during the hot temperatures and long days of summertime. Aside from being full of antioxidents, green tea helps to reduce risks of such things as heart attacks and strokes, which you are at a higher risk of during the summer. So, drink iced green tea instead of pop to stay hydrated and add some extra protection for your health! To read more about iced green tea and other smart nutrition options to try during the summer break, go to:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/10-foods-for-summer-nutrition.htm#page=0 Did you know that eating foods high in potassium can counteract the effects of higher sodium content in your food? By adding veggies like swiss chard, kale, and romaine lettuce to your sandwich or having a side of fruit with your meal can balance out deli meats that are high in sodium, which helps keep your blood pressure down and your belly happy! Read more about potassium at this site:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=90&tname=nutrient Here are some fun facts about bananas from the website http://www.thebananapolice.com
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