Earlier this week, Food Council staff and several Council Members had the opportunity to tour the MCPS Food and Nutrition Services facilities and meet with the new director, Mrs. Susan McCarron.
Mrs. McCarron has a background in dietetics and nutrition, and previously served as a Wellness Specialist and Food Services Supervisor with the Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS). In her new position as director, she is dedicated to increasing healthy, exciting menu options for MCPS students.
During this visit, Food Council Members learned about what goes on behind the scenes to produce the hundreds of thousands of meals distributed to schools each week. DFNS has recently implemented initiatives to increase vegan, vegetarian, and multicultural dishes in school cafeterias. New menu items include roasted vegetables, chicken curry, and Korean beef tacos. Student focus groups and surveys have shown a positive response to these changes, and new recipes continue to be tested regularly in the facility’s test kitchen. DFNS has also made recent changes to incorporate more scratch cooking into school meals. The spacious, high-tech facilities have allowed DFNS to introduce more healthful menu options and make more items in-house.
Food Council Members were impressed by DFNS’s commitment to providing wholesome, fresh food to students, and to the ongoing efforts to reduce waste by providing pre-portioned meals and using recyclable materials. The Food Council is excited to welcome Susan McCarron into this new role, and is proud to support DFNS in promoting better school meals for MCPS.