Collier County Public Schools, the largest food service provider in the county, is gearing up to serve more than 5 million meals to students during the upcoming school year.
On Friday, 300 nutrition services employees gathered at Aubrey Rogers High School for the district's annual Nutrition Service Training to ensure students are well-fed and ready to learn.
The event brought together about 50 kitchen teams from across the county. Participants learned how to adhere to U.S. Department of Agriculture meal pattern rules and regulations. The training emphasized the importance of providing nutritious meals that meet all food group requirements, helping students succeed throughout their school day.
"We're in the business of serving food; that's our main mission. And the mission is students can't learn if they're hungry. So, we're here for the students," said Elizabeth Alfaro, Director of Nutrition Services at CCPS.
Among those attending the training was Cindy Edwards, the cafeteria manager at Corkscrew Elementary and Middle School, who has been serving meals in the district for eight years. Dressed in a fork costume, Edwards shared her enthusiasm for her role.
"I think kids love to see their lunch lady dressing up. They see you every day, and it makes an impact. I love when the kids come up and say, 'Oh my gosh,' and get excited," Edwards said. "I just think that I want to champion school nutrition. It’s very important for kids to eat throughout the day, eat good food, and see a bunch of smiling faces in the cafeteria."
This year, CCPS is introducing a new initiative: all breakfasts will be provided at no cost to all students in the district, ensuring that every child starts their day with a nutritious meal.
As the district's nutrition services team completes its final preparations, it is ready to welcome students back to school on Tuesday with healthy meals and smiling faces.