PAWNEE, Ill. (WAND)- School lunches are not the highlight of most student's days, but that's not the case at Pawnee High School. Starting last school year, food service workers at Pawnee CUSD #11 made it their goal to make as much food from scratch as possible.
"The company that we were working with wanted us to be at 35% scratch by the end of our second year," said Kedra Brown, Cafeteria Director and Head Cook. "For breakfast, we're at 100% all scratch. For lunches, we're around 85%. It's, it's more work, but it's a lot healthier for the kids. "
The proof is in the pudding. The cafeteria has broken records for the number of meals served and vending machine purchases are down 50%. In the last year and a half of school, the kids have been introduced to food like colored carrots, pears, and homemade pizza crust.
While some kids question why certain items, like their beloved chicken tenders or square pizza, look different, they've grown to love them.
"Before it was frozen chicken strips that were all breaded and just throw it in the oven," said Brown. "But now we have to bread them, we egg them and then panko, and all that stuff. We make our own breadcrumbs."
The Sangamon County Board was instrumental in starting this program and plans to expand it now that Pawnee has seen so much success. Part of this is a grant to help create a database to connect local producers and consumers.
"In November we approved a $40,000 grant to U of I extension in Champaign to help track data and to promote local producers and track all these people to put it all together," said Jeff Thomas. The District 4 Sangamon County Board member is also a Pawnee alum and a parent to former Pawnee students.
