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Parents press McAllen ISD on school meals as district unveils 3‑year scratch‑cooking plan
Summary
Parents and students urged McAllen ISD to remove processed "junk" from menus and asked for measurable goals. Child Nutrition Director Sonia Esquivel presented a three‑year plan including bakery expansion and phased menu changes, with targets to increase scratch cooking by 16% (year 1), ~35% (year 2) and ~71% (year 3).
Parents, students and district nutrition staff clashed about the quality of school meals at the McAllen Independent School District board meeting on April 14.
"We're serving junk to our kids," parent Hershel Patel told the board, describing breakfast and lunch items he said were misleadingly labeled and urging the Child Nutrition Program to return with "specific, measurable nutritional goals." Multiple parents and two students asked the district to reduce processed menu items, increase time for lunches and recess, and provide clearer accountability for menu changes.
The board heard a detailed response from Child Nutrition Director Sonia Esquivel, who framed the…
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