Jokes about ‘mystery meat’ are out of date
By Steve Jones For The Baltimore Sun Students have told jokes about cafeteria food for a long time, but in Howard County officials are boasting, not joking, about a recent study that praises the quality and healthful content of food offerings in county schools.
Howard County ranked first — with an A-plus rating — in a recent statewide review of public school systems’ cafeteria offerings.
The rating comes from Healthy School Food Maryland, a coalition of 20 nonprofit and business organizations that work to promote healthy, safe and locally produced food for students.
The first-ever School Food Environment Grades, released in late December, gave grades based on a dozen factors, including food variety, sugar content, nutritional information, salad bars, use of local produce and healthy vending options.
The Howard school system outranked 23 other jurisdictions in Maryland. Grades ranged from Howard’s A-plus to an F for Garrett County schools.
The schools in Frederick and Carroll counties tied for second in the ranking with grades of B-plus.
Other local school system ratings included C grades for Montgomery, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties, and C-plus for Baltimore City and Harford County.
Howard’s top ranking is a point of pride for Brian Ralph, director of food and nutrition services for the county system.
“It was quite gratifying,” said Ralph, in his third year as nutrition chief. “We have many more students participating in meals.
The quality, the variety and the choices have improved. In conjunction with our strict wellness policy, we are incorporating not only the physical aspects of food, but also the healthy aspects of food.”
Ralph said the variety and greater health value of the menu offerings during the last three years have led to a 15 percent increase in the number of students who buy their lunch.
“We’ve got more entrees, and a wider selection of fruits and vegetables,” he said.
“What is not there is anything that’s fried.
Everything is baked instead. What has been deleted is anything that is high in sugar.
There are a lot of fresh juices out there, as opposed to carbonated drinks.”
“I’m not that surprised” at the high ranking, said Brianna Swaby, a freshman at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia. “I know that Howard County schools are good in a lot of aspects. With more options, I’m more open to eating here.”
The school system’s top ranking was welcomed by The Horizon Foundation, a Columbia-based health and wellness organization that conducted a countywide campaign against sugary soft drinks. Foundation officials said that between the start of the campaign in 2012 and its 2015 conclusion, sales of sugary drinks fell by 20 percent.
“The conversation that we’re having about healthier choices is seeping into all areas of the county,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of The Horizon Foundation. “The school system has been diligently working on this, and we’re excited about their healthier choices.”
During a recent lunch period at Wilde Lake High, a group of students gathered around a cafeteria cart that featured salads, See FOOD, page 6
Howard County ranked first — with an A-plus rating — in a recent statewide review of public school systems’ cafeteria offerings.
The rating comes from Healthy School Food Maryland, a coalition of 20 nonprofit and business organizations that work to promote healthy, safe and locally produced food for students.
The first-ever School Food Environment Grades, released in late December, gave grades based on a dozen factors, including food variety, sugar content, nutritional information, salad bars, use of local produce and healthy vending options.
The Howard school system outranked 23 other jurisdictions in Maryland. Grades ranged from Howard’s A-plus to an F for Garrett County schools.
The schools in Frederick and Carroll counties tied for second in the ranking with grades of B-plus.
Other local school system ratings included C grades for Montgomery, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties, and C-plus for Baltimore City and Harford County.
Howard’s top ranking is a point of pride for Brian Ralph, director of food and nutrition services for the county system.
“It was quite gratifying,” said Ralph, in his third year as nutrition chief. “We have many more students participating in meals.
The quality, the variety and the choices have improved. In conjunction with our strict wellness policy, we are incorporating not only the physical aspects of food, but also the healthy aspects of food.”
Ralph said the variety and greater health value of the menu offerings during the last three years have led to a 15 percent increase in the number of students who buy their lunch.
“We’ve got more entrees, and a wider selection of fruits and vegetables,” he said.
“What is not there is anything that’s fried.
Everything is baked instead. What has been deleted is anything that is high in sugar.
There are a lot of fresh juices out there, as opposed to carbonated drinks.”
“I’m not that surprised” at the high ranking, said Brianna Swaby, a freshman at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia. “I know that Howard County schools are good in a lot of aspects. With more options, I’m more open to eating here.”
The school system’s top ranking was welcomed by The Horizon Foundation, a Columbia-based health and wellness organization that conducted a countywide campaign against sugary soft drinks. Foundation officials said that between the start of the campaign in 2012 and its 2015 conclusion, sales of sugary drinks fell by 20 percent.
“The conversation that we’re having about healthier choices is seeping into all areas of the county,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of The Horizon Foundation. “The school system has been diligently working on this, and we’re excited about their healthier choices.”
During a recent lunch period at Wilde Lake High, a group of students gathered around a cafeteria cart that featured salads, See FOOD, page 6
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