Beech Tree News Network

Thanks to a grant from the National Dairy Council, NFL, and the USDA, Butler County students are now receiving smoothies as part of a nutritious breakfast. The Butler County School Nutrition Program received $13,792 towards funding a district-wide smoothie program that allowed the purchase of immersion blenders, breakfast carts, portable tablets for processing meals and other items needed to make the program successful.

 

The smoothie program officially launched at all four schools on Tuesday, September 20th. NBES and MES students can choose smoothies on Tuesdays for breakfast; BCMS students are offered smoothies on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and BCHS students are served smoothies on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

One batch of strawberry smoothies ready to be served at NBES

The smoothies are made from fat-free or low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, and fruit. Each 10-ounce serving qualifies as one serving of protein and ½ cup of fruit. Smoothies meet up to 50% of the weekly fruit and vegetable requirements for the School Breakfast Program.

Along with smoothies being a healthy breakfast alternative, smoothies can also help prevent fruit and vegetable waste. Smoothies are a great way to get students to consume fruits and vegetables instead of throwing them away.

As school nutrition programs move towards making the meal experience more like what a student would receive at a restaurant, smoothies are a great way to promote this. From 2013 to 2015, the number of restaurants featuring smoothies on kid menus grew by 13%. Each school is experimenting with different smoothie flavors to conclude with flavor is the favorite and which flavor will regularly be served.

BCHS senior Chandler Franzell enjoying a breakfast smoothie

MES 5th graders Lawson Rice, Ty Price and Stormee Flint, enjoy strawberry-banana smoothies for breakfast

 “We are thrilled with the success of this program thus far. We have seen a noticeable increase in our breakfast participation at BCHS and our younger students can’t wait for smoothie day at their schools”, stated Kaitlin Harrison, RD, LD, Butler County Schools Nutrition Director. “The goal of the program is to increase participation, increase healthy breakfast options for our students and to decrease fruit waste, and so far we are meeting our goals.”