2009 New York State Best Practices Award
"For Excellence in Promoting Healthy Choices /
Nutrition Education"

Riverhead Central School District
Karen Ball, Food Service Director

(November, 2009 - Riverhead, NY) Karen Ball, the Director of the District's Food Service Program, and the Riverhead Central School District have provided many opportunities for their students to not only learn about the importance of nutrition but to have fun while doing it! Through a variety of special events and new options in the cafeteria, students, staff, and parents alike have been encouraged to eat and learn about being healthy. As a result of their many programs, Riverhead School District's Food Service Program has been recognized nationally and most recently received a 2009 New York State Best Practices Award "For Excellence in Promoting Healthy Choices/Nutrition Education".

"Word Finds" and “Nutrition Notes”, which are printed on the back of lunch menus, act as a creative and simple way to help get students interested in the benefits of eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and milk. Colorful posters promoting healthy eating and exercise are part of the school lunch environment. The school lunch and breakfast program also hosted a program entitled "Eat Breakfast and Have a Ball". This effort encouraged students to enjoy a healthy breakfast, to make good food choices, and to enjoy getting physical through a raffle which gave those students participating in the program "chances" to win a basketball and a soccer ball in a drawing at the end of the promotion.

The Food Service has formed a healthy partnership with Suffolk Community College and brought Dietician Technician students to the school to givee SCCC students an opportunity to observe and learn about opportunities in school lunch programs. The SCCC students teach Riverhead elementary students a unit on healthy snack choices. A presentation by the dieticians in Health classes get the Pulaski Street students into the act by having them participate in a hands-on testing for the sugar content of several different beverages. The demonstration allows the students to get involved and actually learn about the nutritional content of foods and drinks they are consuming on a daily basis.

At the high school, students compete in an Iron Chef contest where secret ingredients, which in the last competition consisted of healthy chicken, rice, and spinach, are used to prepare a meal that is judged by a group of professional chefs and nutritionists to determine the reigning RHS "Iron Chef". The four students participating in last year's contest had a great time, and the audience which was filled with friends, parents, and teachers, cheered them on and ultimately learned unique ways of eating these healthy and delicious choices. The winning student is then entered in Suffolk County Community College's Culinary Arts Iron Chef competition, which offers the winner a full culinary arts scholarship to SCCC.

The District's school lunch program was also recognized for encouraging students to eat nutritious foods through an increased utilization of fresh, local produce. The Riverhead School District was one of only two Long Island districts to receive a New York State "Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Grant," which provides healthy snacks to its students on a daily basis. Buying from local farmers is important for this district and the response to it has been a positive one!