Nov. 26--As food service director for the Mitchell School District, Sean Moen once served middle-school students a 100 percent wheat cookie.
The students' reaction?
Less than exuberant.
"It was terrible," Moen said. "There's a lot of trial and error there."
Eventually, Moen found a recipe that better appeased students, allowing the food service to provide a snack with rare qualities: one that students want and one that adheres to the adequate nutritional values.
It's just one item of many that Moen has offered students in an attempt to find out what items with higher nutritional value students will accept. The process has introduced middle school students to a variety of foods and earned the Mitchell Middle School one of Gov. Mike Rounds' Healthy Schools Awards.
Mitchell High School also received the award, as did Knollwood Elementary School in Rapid City and Brandon Valley School District.
"These schools are taking very thoughtful, calculated steps to improve the overall health of their students and school community and we commend them for their efforts," said Kari Senger, co-director of the Coordinated School Health Program.
Each award winner will receive $5,000.
During his four-year tenure, Moen has had student participate in taste tests using items prepared with nutritional value in mind.
"We did a lot of testing of different products to make sure that they're kid-friendly, and middle school kids are by far the most vocal in letting you know if it's a good or bad thing," Moen said. "We would change the recipe, work it up again and let them sample things. It was very helpful."
During the taste tests, staff is stationed throughout the lunch room to receive feedback on the items, which can range from kiwi and grapes to spinach and Brussels sprouts.
On occasion, Moen said, a small amount of trickery is involved.
"The first time we did chocolate cake, I used a recipe that had 75 percent whole wheat ... and the kids had no idea," Moen said. "If you put on the menu 'Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake,' they're not going to take it. That's part of the marketing."
Moen is hoping to continue to offer items that either put a healthy spin on a traditional item or offer students a chance to try something new, like spinach in cheese sauce.
Brad Berens, middle school principal, said national trends of obesity in students has caused many schools, including his, to reevaluate their food offerings. He credits Moen with bringing healthy alternatives to Mitchell Middle School.
"I'm thinking Sean is going to be always looking for those healthier alternatives, whether it's baking instead of frying of offering whole wheat products," Berens said. "I think we've got a good base."
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