Celebrating School Lunch Hero Day on May 3, 2024
Between preparing delicious food, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) nutrition professionals have a lot on their plate. To celebrate their hard work and commitment, Culpeper schools will celebrate School Lunch Hero Day on May 3. This day, celebrated annually since 2013, was designated by The School Nutrition Association and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series. School Lunch Hero Day provides an opportunity for parents, students, school staff and communities to thank those who provide healthy meals to nearly 30 million of America’s students each school day.
All across the school division, school nutrition professionals will be honored and recognized by students, school staff, parents, and the community. AG Richardson students in Mrs. Aylor’s 2nd grade class created a poster for their cafeteria staff this week that said that they are “the Berry best.”
“School nutrition employees must balance many roles and follow numerous federal, state and local regulations to ensure safe and healthy meals are available in schools. School Lunch Hero Day provides the opportunity for the community to thank these hardworking heroes for their dedication to fueling our students for success,” said Greg Beamer, CCPS Director of School Nutrition.
Federal nutrition standards ensure that school cafeterias always offer low-fat or fat-free milk, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. School meals also meet limits on calories, sodium and unhealthy fats. The importance and nutritional value of school meals are well documented. For many children, school lunch is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day.
Get the details about School Lunch Hero Day at www.schoollunchheroday.com. To learn more about the school nutrition program for CCPS, go to https://www.culpeperschools.org/page/school-nutrition-services
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 50,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. To find out more about today’s school meals, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/SchoolMeals.