New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn celebrated National School Lunch Week with a visit to Timberlane Middle School in Mercer County. Accompanied by USDA staff and other officials, Secretary Wengryn observed the school's meal program, which recently received recognition from the USDA and Action for Healthy Kids with a Healthy Meals Initiative Award.
The school features a lunchroom set-up that includes a farm stand offering fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The day's menu included General Tso chicken with locally grown baby bok choy, various chicken tenders, a build-your-own burger station, pasta options, and pizza. Students could also choose between garden or Caesar salads.
“Timberlane Middle School and the Hopewell Valley Regional School District demonstrated today that they are very deserving of their Healthy Meals Initiative recognition by the USDA,” stated Secretary Wengryn. “By offering a variety of foods with healthy options, schools have the opportunity to begin the process of students engaging in habits that can lead to a lifetime of better health through nutrition.”
The Hopewell Valley Regional School District participates in the USDA Department of Defense Direct Delivery Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, using over $90,000 in commodity funds for fresh produce for the 2024-2025 school year.
Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece highlighted the importance of establishing healthy eating habits early: “Our students have the opportunity to make good choices about what they eat with a wide range of high-quality options available here.”
New Jersey schools adhere to USDA nutrition standards that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk options while limiting unhealthy fats and sodium.
Diana Limbacher from USDA Food and Nutrition Service commended New Jersey's strong school meals program: “We commend the New Jersey Department of Agriculture for their strong school meals program and want to recognize the hard work of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District to win a 2024 Healthy Meals Incentive Award for Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals."
National School Lunch Week is an initiative by the School Nutrition Association to promote participation in nutritious meal programs. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture oversees this program in New Jersey, where nearly 670,000 children participate.
