Waukee Students Dine On Their Day Off at WASS Food Show

Nutrition departments from Waukee, Ankeny, Southeast Polk and Saydel Community School Districts invited 69 students to participate in a vendor food show at Waukee High School on October 27.

The four school districts are part of a buying consortium which allows them to buy items in bulk, saving each district thousands of dollars each year. With their current food distributor contract ending this school year, the nutrition department directors thought this would be a good opportunity to collect input from students about what they like and want on the menu.

“It was important for us to hear feedback from our students. Knowing how they feel about products allows us to make more informed decisions about what we order,” said Waukee Community School District director of nutrition Jeannie Allgood. “Ultimately our goal is to create healthy menus that not only meet federal guidelines but taste good.”

There were more than 30 types of food from several cuisines for students to try. Students browsed table after table in Waukee High School’s commons, sampling options from a variety of manufacturers and completed feedback forms.

The nutrition directors from the are planning on using the data from the form to choose a distributor that could provide their students with healthy and delicious meal options.