Improving School

Nutrition
Group 3 – Mayra Caraveo, Lindsey Luttmer, Mason Spencer & Katie Wynkoop
 Overview

▪ Hockinson School District cafeterias

currently do not have the funding in
their lunch program to include more
nutrient dense meals

▪ Contracted through Chartwells Food

Service

▪ Most menu options in the cafeterias

are high in saturated fats, with
healthier options pushed to the side

▪ Fresher food is often more expensive

than the canned and heavily
processed foods served in the schools
Approach
▪ Analyze nutritional content in meals
served to students nationwide
▪ Understand funding situations in
Washington State compared to
Hockinson Schools
▪ How can more whole grains, fruits
and vegetables make it into the
student's meals?
Current State

▪ Hockinson School District $1.30

approximate budget per child 
▪ 5 billion school lunches provided
nationwide 
▪ Approximately 30.4 million
participants nationwide from free,
reduced and full price 
▪ Healthy lunch provides one-third of
nutritional needs for children
Nutritional Meals Growth 

▪ 73% received nutritional meals from USDA'S

National School Lunch program 

▪ Students received healthy lunches 18.5 million in

2008 and 22.1 million in 2016 

▪ Decline in 2007-2009 due to recession 

▪ From 2008-2011 there was an increase from 31.0

million to 31.8 million children 
School Lunch Price Per Student 2017-2018 School Year

• Hockinson School School Lunch Cost Per Student

district funding Elementary Middle Column1

per student is
above the national
average

$4.00
$4.00
$3.75

$3.75
$3.50
$3.25

$3.25
$3.25
$3.05

$3.00
$2.80
$2.74
$2.68

$2.65
$2.48
• Hockinson School
District is on
average 20%
lower than Nat'l Avg Bellevue Hockinson Seattle Issaquah

Bellevue, Seattle,
and Issaquah
school districts
6
 Dietary Guidelines For Americans Ages 14-18

Average Cups Per Day Recommended Cups Per Day

Vegetables
6%Fruits Vegetables
6% 15%
Protein
Protein
28% Fruit
30%
10%

Grains Dairy
Dairy 45% 14%
12%
Grains
34%

Vegetables Fruits Grains Dairy Protein Vegetables Fruit Grains Dairy Protein

• On average fruits and vegetables are 12% of daily intake versus 25% recommended

• On average grains are 46% of daily intake vs 34% recommended

• Protein and Dairy are within range

U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary 7
Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition.
December 2020. Available at
DietaryGuidelines.gov.
National School Lunch Program

• Program ensures the

Dietary Guidelines for
nutrition are met
• Food offer must be
balanced between fruits,
vegetables, whole grains,
and lean proteins
• Federal reimbursement if a
strict nutritional standard is
followed
• Competitive food in
vending machines must
also follow the “Smart
Snacks in School” standard

8
School Nutrition Association www.schoolnutrition.org
 National School Lunch Program Continued

Costs To Produce School Meals Federal Reimbursement Rates

School Nutrition Association www.schoolnutrition.org

Conclusion & Recommendations
Now
▪ Hockinson School District is far
behind its potential when it comes to
student nutrition
▪ Funding per student is currently
above the national average
▪ More could be done to increase
student lunch quality without
increasing cost to students
The Future
▪ Recommend applying to the National
School Lunch Program
▪ Grants provided to school districts, on
the condition of certain dietary needs
being met and maintained
▪ Another option is to reach out to local
farms and co-ops
▪ Alternative source for reliably grown
fruits and vegetables, mutually
beneficial