School Lunch Ain't What It Used to Be

I joined my 4th grader for lunch at the elementary school, one day last week. The school lunch menu said it was "Maine Local Harvest Week" and on the schedule that day was "School Garden Pasta". 
How could I resist?

What was served was nothing like the school lunches I received as a child. And I mean that in the most positive way.


We had whole wheat penne with a sauce of tomatoes, celery, peppers, onions and white beans. While I found it a bit bland (nothing some fresh basil and oregano couldn't fix), I can't argue with its wholesomeness and kid-appeal.

What I really loved was the salad bar. Freshly picked lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots. Topped off with an edible flower!

Did you ever get that in your school cafeteria?
Me neither.
Most of the kids were open to taking a little nibble, just for the novelty of it. They found it surprisingly spicy. Few asked for seconds.
So what? It's all about the exposure to new foods that can be found in their own backyard.

Literally.
 The vegetables all came from the Yarmouth School Garden, a 60' x 100' plot behind the elementary school. The garden grows organic produce for use in the Yarmouth school system's nutrition program.
Now in it's second year, the garden is a community project that not only feeds the school kids but also provides valuable lessons in nutrition, biology and the environment. High schoolers volunteer their time and receive community service credit.

Other meals throughout the week included Wolfe's Neck Farm hamburgers and pesto crostini.

What's next? Lobster rolls?

Maybe.

Maine Harvest Week hopes to promote relationships not only with farmers, but with the fishermen who are an important part of the community.

Dessert that day was a delicious, fresh blueberry crisp.

I have a feeling if the Nutrition Program keeps this up, they'll have to start taking lunch reservations from parents.