Tomorrow (May 3) is School Lunch Hero Day, a special day to celebrate the hard work and dedication of school nutrition professionals. The South Dakota Department of Education invites students, school staff, parents and communities to thank their local school lunch and breakfast staff.
The state health department says over 16.6 million healthy lunches were served in South Dakota in the 2017-18 school year, with over 7.9 million going to low-income children. Over 4.5 million nutritious breakfast meals were also served.
School nutrition employees have to follow federal, state and local regulations. Federal nutrition standards ensure that school cafeterias offer students low-fat or fat-free milk, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. School meals also meet limits on calories, sodium and unhealthy fats.
Find more information about School Lunch Hero Day at www.schoollunchheroday.com.
Celebrated annually since 2013, School Lunch Hero Day was designated by the School Nutrition Association and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series.
