The Nutrition Services team kicked off the 2025–26 school year with a robust professional development training centered on quality service and meaningful student engagement.
More than 90 team members, including Cook Managers, Food Service Assistants, Nutrition Services Aides, and substitute staff participated in this year’s training, focused around the Institute of Child Nutrition’s course, “Utilizing the Cafeteria as a Classroom.” The course provided strategies to transform the daily meal experience into an opportunity for learning, connection, and healthy habits.
The training emphasized that students are the Nutrition Services Department’s most important customers, and since cafeteria meals are optional, positive presentation and interaction are key to encouraging participation. Staff were encouraged to greet students with a smile, learn their names, and foster welcoming environments that make a lasting impression. Employees also learned techniques for encouraging healthy choices, including offering sample-sized portions of new fruits and vegetables, such as zucchini, the District’s featured “Harvest of the Month.”
“Our students deserve meals that are not only nutritious, but also inviting,” said Rosa Estrella, Director of Nutrition Services.
This year’s focus builds on a strong foundation of success. In 2024–25, the District provided over 40% of meals made from scratch using minimally processed ingredients. Through funding from the Local Food for Schools grant, Baldwin Park Unified partnered with regional farmers to deliver fresh, locally grown produce to campuses, introducing students to unique fruits such as dragon fruit and kumquats.
In addition, the District launched a partnership with Copia, a food recovery platform that helped reduce food waste by donating surplus meals to shelters and community organizations, promoting sustainability and social responsibility.
Among last year’s most popular student meals were pasta dishes and roasted ranch broccoli, the latter of which became a surprise hit and is set to return to menus this year.
As Baldwin Park Unified enters a new school year, its Nutrition Services team remains dedicated to nourishing students, strengthening community ties, and continuing to raise the standard for school meals.