Nutrition Group reports menu changes, breakfast participation dip to McKeesport Area School District board

The McKeesport Area School District on Feb. 13 heard a presentation from Nutrition Group outlining menu innovations, participation trends and budget implications for the district—s meal program.

Nutrition Group regional manager Kelly told the board the vendor has introduced a coffee and smoothie bar at the high school, a sushi station and more scratch-made breakfast items intended to boost participation after the district stopped a grab-and-go breakfast model. "That's actually a reimbursable meal, so they do get the smoothies for free. Coffee, they are allowed to have coffee. That isn't part of a reimbursable meal," Kelly said.

Kelly said the vendor also has used a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) of students in each building to gather menu feedback, expanded social media promotion of menu offerings and instituted a salt-free spice program to address student complaints that items were bland. She also said menus and photos are displayed on cafeteria screens.

Nutrition Group presented summary graphs showing the program—s bottom-line revenue tied to average daily participation (ADP) and said January weather closures skewed recent ADP figures. Board members and Nutrition Group staff said breakfast participation declined after the district stopped the previous grab-and-go service that allowed students to take breakfast to class; staff said the change is a principal driver of the decline.

At the high school, district staff and Nutrition Group have tried smoothies and expanded scratch-made breakfast items such as breakfast burritos and tacos to make breakfast less repetitious for students. The vendor reported reintroducing an a la carte option at the middle school this month.

Nutrition Group chef Nate, who ran the sushi station at the high school, said the offering was new and that many students tried it. Kelly added that staff are careful to make clear that the sushi offered is not raw: "I think we also have to make sure they understand it's not raw. I think some people just assume all sushi is raw."

The district's finance committee later discussed food-service capital needs and said renovations to the Founders Hall kitchen would be paid from the food service fund rather than the general fund.

Kelly closed by noting the vendor's efforts to increase participation and asking whether board members had questions.

Board members thanked Nutrition Group and noted generally positive public response to recent menu promotions.