As part of the new nutrition program ﾓOur Kids, Our Food, Our Choice,ﾔ the students at Pocahontas County High School voted for their favorite new menu item October 28.

ProStart teacher Teresa Mullen allowed her students to select the recipes they wanted to cook. They prepared samples of baked tilapia and bean burritos.

ﾓThe students have fun selecting and preparing the samples,ﾔ?Mullen said. ﾓI think this is a great way to show our students that healthy food can be good food.ﾔ

The samples were served during lunch and students voted for their favorite.

Monday, the winning entr�e, baked fish, was served to the students as the first Kid�s Choice lunch. Due to availability, the cooks served baked scandia, a fish similar to tilapia.

Head cook Nancy Green said the cooks have enjoyed working with the students on the new program.

ﾓI think itﾒs a beautiful meal,ﾔ she said. ﾓWe try to listen to them and they tell us what they like and what they donﾒt like.ﾔ

The majority of students said they enjoyed the meal and, more importantly, liked that their opinions were heard.

The runner-up meal, a bean burrito, will be served for lunch December 21.

Coordinator of Food Services Cheri Hall said she is excited the program is being embraced by the students and cooks.

ﾓIﾒm proud of the cooks for implementing the new recipes, because it can be hard to change a menu and they have had such a positive attitude about this and itﾒs so refreshing,ﾔ?she said. ﾓItﾒs also exciting the kids are making choices for their lunch menu and Ms. [Teresa] Mullen is including her students in the process.ﾔ

Mullen said her students are ready for the next round of recipes.

ﾓWe have another sampling [this week] for the next menu item, and I know the students are excited about doing this again,ﾔ?she said.