Students help shape school menus in Mahomet-Seymour

MAHOMET, Ill. (WAND) - Students at Mahomet-Seymour Community Schools are getting a chance to help decide what ends up on their lunch trays through a unique taste-testing program designed to give young students a voice in school dining.

The district has partnered with Quest Food Management Services to launch the “Little Bulldog Taste Testers” program, where first- and second-grade students sample potential menu items and provide feedback before foods are added to school cafeterias.

At a recent tasting session at Middletown Prairie Elementary School, students sampled a chocolate chickpea strawberry pack featuring strawberries, pretzels, Goldfish crackers, string cheese and a chocolate chickpea dip.

Second-grader Sofia said that being part of the committee is exciting because students get to help shape future lunches.

“I think that is really fun. And I get to try everything before anybody else’s,” Sophia said.

She explained that students use smiley face ratings to help determine whether foods make it onto the menu.

“Depending on how many people chose the smiley face on it, they would add it.”

Another student, Eli, said he enjoys knowing his opinion can impact what classmates eat.

“My favorite part is that it’s like all options that, like, this is our opinion,” Eli said. “If I say it smiley face and everyone else does, the whole school has it.”

Students said the chocolate chickpea dip was one of the favorites during the latest tasting.

“I thought it was great,” Sofia said.

Luke, another student participant, said the program encourages students to try new foods.

“I just think it’s really nice to have an opportunity to try new things."

The initiative started last school year after collaboration between school administrators and food service leaders.

Tracy Beecher, assistant principal at Middletown Prairie Elementary, told WAND News that she and Janice Alexander teamed up to bring the idea to life.

“She brought the idea to our building administration, and we thought it was a great idea to pull together some second-grade leaders and ask them to add some items to our lunch menu.”

The committee meets twice a year across district schools.

Beecher said students are selected through teacher recommendations, often choosing students who regularly eat school lunches and show leadership skills.

“We reached out to teachers and asked for names of students who primarily eat hot lunch every day or multiple times a week,” Beecher said. “Then they shared names with us, and we drew from a hat.”

District leaders said the program is about more than just food.

“I think that their opinions matter, right? Their voices should be heard,” Beecher said. “They learn often in the things that they’re eating, like where their protein is coming from, or like the chocolate chickpea today. It looks like they’re eating fudge, but it’s actually a really good, healthy snack.”

The district said student feedback has already helped add new menu items, including fruit slushie cups, breakfast parfaits, Alfredo pasta and chicken wings.

Alexander said one popular addition has been fruit-based slushie cups that meet nutrition requirements.

“It’s a slushie cup that actually counts as a fruit,” Alexander said. “They’re frozen, and the kids absolutely love them.”

Administrators said the program also helps students build confidence and communication skills at a young age.

“It’s just allowing them to practice these early leadership skills and even early speaking skills,” Beecher said. “It’s just building their confidence and their ability to be lifelong learners.”

Students even met with the Mahomet-Seymour School Board on March 23 to share more about their committee.