Fayette shakes it up in school nutrition

Fayette County Schools is joining the Georgia Department of Education’s new statewide initiative to Shake It Up in School Nutrition. The initiative was created to enhance the flavor and improve the perception of school meals by focusing on three key areas: customer service, food quality and cafeteria environment.

Fayette’s School Nutrition Program has taken the Shake it Up pledge at the gold level. To meet the pledge, the school system must complete a minimum of three items listed under each key area.

Fayette plans on Shaking Up food quality by conducting student taste tests, including Georgia grown and/or farm to school items on the menu, offering a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables, and serving delicious attractive meals everyday.

Fayette is also Shaking Up the cafeteria environment by decorating cafeterias and serving lines in an inviting manner and providing nutrition education lessons and handouts.

The school system will focus on Shaking up customer service by listening and incorporating customer feedback, encouraging students to make choices, and fostering a positive environment.

Fayette is among 1,200 school systems across the state that has taken the Shake It Up pledge. Awards for school systems meeting the pledge at the gold, silver or bronze level will be given at a special breakfast just for Shake It Up school systems during the Georgia School Nutrition Association Annual Conference on Jekyll Island in April.