Just finished my final school lunch meal :(. But my gosh it was a good one to end on!
This morning I worked on an inservice on how to cut grapefruit to serve hundreds of kids. My coworker mastered the technique to get little bite-sized segments.
First you put the stem toward your body and cut the grapefruit in half. Then, flesh down, turn each half 90* and cut into 4 pieces.
Segments vs a pithy wedge!
Today’s lunch was a lesson in servings. I filled 1/2 my plate with leafy greens and colorful roasted root veggies (so glad these made an appearance on my last day!). I added a small (1/3 of what was delivered as my slice) portion of lasgna. A whole wheat roll and the best orange ever. I drank a few sips of milk too. Left me perfectly full!!
I want to thank everyone at Rowan-Salisbury Schools for their kindness over the past 5 weeks. I’ve gotten to work on so many projects, met so many nice people and have learned so much! Hope I can stop by and visit the next time I travel up I-85 🙂
See you blog readers for din!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
That does sound like a great lunch! I love love love roasted root veggies but I’ve never seen them in the schools before. Very cool!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
Thanks for how to cut the grapefruit – that is a great idea! I love grapefruit and eat it everyday.
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) says
Glad to see there are so many healthy options for school kids! If only my middle and high school self knew what I knew now…Oh goodness, to think of the junk (pizza lunch-ables!) I used to eat.
Ally (Exercise and Pies) says
I’ve never been into grapefruits but honestly I still can’t believe how healthy this school system is! Back in school I had a tiny salad bar and packed every single day because nothing was healthy
glad you had a great experience kath!
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
im still amazed that this school serves up roasted root veggies!
Ashley says
What a fun experience you had there! I bet they’re going to miss you!!!
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
If only all school lunches were as good as what you were serving!!
Christie @ Honoring Health says
Glad you enjoyed your time at the school, I am sure they are going to miss you!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
what a great last supper 🙂 getting excited about the next phase of your journey!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Sweet grapefruit method (no pun intended hehe)! I gotta try that. I hate when the grapefruit squirts me in the face when I scoop it out with a spoon.
Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com says
Awh I’m glad you had a good last day!! Shame it had grapefruit in it…are they always so bitter or are there sweeter varieties!? I HATE it with a passion lol :p
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Looks like a great last lunch, and it sounds like you really enjoyed your time there!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
nice segment technique!
what a great experience you’ve had here!
Hannah says
So wonderful that you had such a positive experience! I hope your next rotation is just as wonderful – and includes roasted root veggies in abundance too! 🙂
Ameena says
Cutting a grapefruit is always so messy! I am going to try this technique next time. Thanks!
Fallon says
Wow that was really 5 weeks already?!?! The time went by so quickly!
Mary says
I know you must be a little sad. I have enjoyed reading about your experience these past 5 weeks. I wish the schools my kids go to would serve such wonderful, nutritious lunches.
Amy Botta says
I love that grapefruit technique…I think I need to try it out I love it when the pieces are segmented and I’ve never been able to do it correctly. It’s sad that your school rotation is ending, I’ve loved reading all the different things that you’ve done 🙂
Caroline says
Brilliant! I bought an 18 pound bag of grapefruit and couldn’t figure out the most economical way to bring them to work to eat!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
I can’t believe how fast this time flew by! You definitely did an amazing job with those students Kath!
Megan (bites of the apple) says
Whoa great tip on the grapefruit…i always make such a mess eating them at work!!
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather says
Great lunch to end on. Sounds like it was an awesome 5 weeks and you learned a lot!
Run Sarah says
Thanks for the grapefruit tutorial! I always cut them in half and scoop em which can be more messy/time consuming!
Cole says
I’ve always wondered how they get wedges cut so perfectly!
Adrien says
wonderful experience, I can’t believe it’s over already– what will you do with all your free time?! haha
Lauren says
I’m totally going to start cutting my grapefruit like that!
Ida says
Did anyone at the schools talk about the let’s move campaign? it seems like there is a lot of momentum behind it right now, but I kind of doubt it will have any long term effect. Just wondering how schools are feeling about the new initiative.
Kath says
I didn’t hear that one mentioned specifically, but i was mostly in nutrition and not so much in physical ed.
Jessie says
I’ll have to try that grapefruit trick during our big foodservice dinner. I’m sure it’ll made the prep go faster 🙂
Too bad you’re leaving the school 🙁 I hope your next rotation will be as fulfilling!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Everything on your lunch plate looks delightful. 🙂
Jenn
Jamie Walker says
Way to go healthy school lunches!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing says
Oh I love the lesson in how to properly cut a grapefruit! I usually just peel and eat the whole thing – fun but a BIG MESS!
Veronica says
Kath,
I’m nearing the end of my dietetic program(1 year left!) and things are getting CRAZY! Seeing all of the cool things you’re doing is one of the things keeping me going. When I get STRESSED about Vitamins/Proteins/Enzymes/Research/Intern applications etc… I just come here and relax : ) Thanks for the mental break!
Kath says
TIME. WILL. FLY!
Amanda says
My school lunches never looked like that, and after looking up my former schools (elem., middle, HS) I can say things have only mildly improved. Well, the high school is just how I remember it, but the others have only mildly improved. I’ll never forget when I was in elementary school and instead of taking a packed lunch I got the school lunch. It was nachos with meat (on the side) and cheese. The meat was globed together by grease. My mom had come for lunch that day, and she was so disturbed by the meal that she gave me part of what she’d brought for herself. Middle school wasn’t much better, but high school was by far the worst. Due to the number of kids trying to cram into the cafeteria you often only had 10-15 minutes to eat what you bought, so most kids didn’t buy from there. Instead they brought money and pumped it into our school’s vending machines and ate “lunch” from them. A few kids packed lunches, some didn’t eat at all, and everyone couldn’t wait ’til Senior year when you could drive off campus for lunch.
Sara says
I’m totally not trying to be rude or pick at you, but I notice a lot that you say things like “had a few sips of milk”, “ate a bite of a cookie” etc.
Do you just take a sip or bite and toss the rest away?
Kath says
Yes, waist or waste, right? But I don’t go out of my way to order something just to waste it. Usually there are 10 cookies and I might take half of one and leave half for someone else.
Kristilyn (My 29th Year) says
I love grapefruit! I might have to see those instructions in video format though … couldn’t quite get what I’m supposed to be doing!
Lunch looks delicious!
K
Danielle says
While I’m super far behind on my google reader and have missed a lot of the meals that were prepared by your school during your internship, I did see a few at the beginning and wanted to say that I think they serve some AMAZING food there! I love how well balanced everything has been and how many different food options they offer. I’m so jealous because right now we can’t even get a salad in our cafeteria because they kids don’t buy them when it’s cold (Note: we live in Florida…) and they go to waste so the cafeteria manager stopped making them. Sigh. One day I’m hoping that our food will improve but I certainly have hope!