Healthy meals a priority for Clint ISD

The Clint Independent School District wants to ensure healthy meals for students are a priority at all of its schools.

To accomplish healthy and tasty food, the cafeteria staff at schools like Horizon High work with a food service company.

Southwest Foodservice Excellence provides chefs and nutritionists to work with the school staff to create better meals with more nutritional value.

The cafeteria staff now uses less processed foods and more made-from-scratch recipes that still meet guidelines for school meals.

“They’re happy. They like what we serve and the numbers show it,” said Eva Lujan, cafeteria manager.

“There’s an assortment of fruits and vegetables that we can choose from, I think that’s pretty awesome,” said Luis Maldonado, a senior at Horizon.

All students at CISD schools get free breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dinner program is new at the district and Lujan said it has been a success.

“They love it and our participation has been steady. Some come after practice, some before, so we’re here with enough time for them to join us for dinner.”

Another student, Steven Martinez, said he is glad they get healthy options because he’s an athlete, has to stay in shape and eat right.

“There’s a stereotype that cafeteria food is gross but our is pretty good.”