Barbecue lunch for 580?
No problem.
Natomas Unified sparked up the grill and threw out the welcome mat Thursday for a huge crowd of parents and kids at its community celebration touting summer meals and a statewide push to buy more locally grown foods for school lunches.
Italian sausage, chicken apple sausage, portobello mushroom burgers, beans, salad, fruit – all were free to anyone who showed up, and all foods were purchased from farms in Sacramento, Colusa, Hayward and the Central Valley.
“I thought it was excellent,” said Marilynn Littlejohn, one of many adult diners. “And when kids eat food like this, it gives them an idea of what they should be eating – not chicken nuggets and other fast foods.”
The celebration also featured a free farmers market, cooking demonstrations by Le Cordon Bleu, and several kid-friendly activities – including one in which youngsters made themselves smoothies by pedaling a specially equipped bike to power a blender.
Festivities were organized by Natomas Unified’s Nutrition Services Department in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the California Department of Education, and the nonprofit Center for EcoLiteracy.
Jan White, a holistic counselor, called the food “fantastic” and said she was impressed not only with its variety but with its taste. “It’s not just that it’s fresh, but the spices they used enhanced the freshness of the food.”
Favorite item on the menu?
Kids were all over the board on that question.
Italian sausage, said Kyle, 8.
Fruit salad, said Antrewlynn, 8.
Chocolate milk, said Kennedi, 3.
While Thursday’s community barbecue was a special treat, open to all ages, Natomas Unified has been serving meals to youth all summer. Through July 10, the tally was 55,731 breakfasts or lunches. Meals will continue to be served through July 31. Details are available at https://natomasunified.org/blog/nusd-offers-free-summer-meals-to-anyone-18-and-under/
