The Morongo Unified School District Nutrition Services Department was honored last week with a Turnip the Beet award from the Food and Nutrition Services of the US Department of Agriculture.
The Turnip the Beet Award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the nation who offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing and nutritious during the summer months. It showcases sponsors who are going above and beyond. In San Bernardino County four districts were awarded including Ontario-Montclair School District Food and Nutrition Services, Rialto Unified School District Child Nutrition, Hesperia Unified School District Nutrition Services and MUSD Nutritional Services.
The MUSD won the Silver Award for our Summer Meal program which provides high-quality meals that are nutritious, appealing and well-balanced for students throughout summer.
"We are incredibly proud to receive the Turnip the Beet Award," said Janet Barth, Director of Nutritional Services. "We believe that proper nutrition is essential for student success, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to promote health and wellness in our schools."
Summer meals are critical in the lives of millions of our nation’s youth, whose risk for food insecurity increases during the summer months when they no longer have access to the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Summer meal programs present the opportunity to help alleviate summertime food insecurity and positively impact children’s growth and development by offering nutritious meals and encouraging children to develop healthy habits at a young age. High quality summer meals provide daily energy, and help make sure children are healthy and ready to learn when they return to school in the fall.
"We are thrilled to see our Nutritional Services department recognized for its outstanding efforts in providing nutritious meals to students," said Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas. "The health and well-being of our students are top priorities for us, and we are grateful for the dedication of our nutritional department in ensuring that our students have access to healthy and delicious meals every day."
For more information visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/turnip-the-beet.