Belmont-Redwood Shores staff tout universal free meals as parents press for healthier breakfasts, better ordering and less plastic

Belmont-Redwood Shores School District staff on a virtual community meeting on Feb. 5 reviewed the district’s nutrition program and fielded more than an hour of parent feedback about meal quality, menu predictability and packaging.

Catherine Reese, the district’s business services staffer who also leads nutrition services, opened the presentation and said all students "regardless of family's ability to pay, can eat free breakfast and lunch at school every day," noting the California Department of Education has committed to fund universal meals through the current school year. Reese and Chief Business Officer Reese Matsumoto said participation rose after the district began working with vendor LunchMasters this year and that the district is tracking increased uptake among students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

The nut graf: Parents welcomed higher participation but repeatedly pressed staff on three fronts: the nutritional quality of breakfast items (parents described high-sugar cereals and pastries), the lack of consistently available vegetarian/vegan protein options, and operational problems that leave some children…