Hello! My name is Sara Cook. I recently completed my food service rotation at Bremen High School District 228 and wanted to reflect on the variety of school nutrition experiences I was able to obtain there! I was placed mainly at Oak Forest High School in Oak Forest, IL but was able to spend time at all four high schools in Bremen High School District and two elementary schools in Forest Ridge Elementary School District 142. Bremen High School District is “off-program,” meaning all four high schools in this district do not participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and instead serve a la carte items. Forest Ridge Elementary School District, however, does participate in the NSLP. I appreciated learning the differences in production, purchasing, and sales between off-program and NSLP schools.
For my Retail Marketing and Wellness Project, I planned an event called “How Do You Snack?” to help promote Sodexo’s Simply to Go (STG) product line and increase student engagement at Tinley Park High School. I tested several STG recipes on students through free samples and a customer survey in order to determine the potential best-selling STG items. The Tinley Park High School students I interacted with at this event were very enthusiastic about expressing their opinions on cafeteria choices. They wanted their voices to be heard! The students’ survey results showed me which main items they prefer in their sandwiches and wraps, as well as the salads, yogurt parfaits, and snacks they would be most interested in eating. From this data, I made recommendations for the STG menu items to offer in Bremen High School District next school year. My preceptor decided that the district will not include snack boxes with hard boiled eggs as the survey results showed a low interest in hard boiled eggs as snacks.
Since my preceptor is a district manager, I was uniquely fortunate to have interesting discussions with her about her work experience and her vision for the growth of Bremen High School District’s food service experience. Overall, I am grateful to have had such a diverse experience at Bremen High School District and will take with me a lot of knowledge about management and school nutrition opportunities!
For my Retail Marketing and Wellness Project, I planned an event called “How Do You Snack?” to help promote Sodexo’s Simply to Go (STG) product line and increase student engagement at Tinley Park High School. I tested several STG recipes on students through free samples and a customer survey in order to determine the potential best-selling STG items. The Tinley Park High School students I interacted with at this event were very enthusiastic about expressing their opinions on cafeteria choices. They wanted their voices to be heard! The students’ survey results showed me which main items they prefer in their sandwiches and wraps, as well as the salads, yogurt parfaits, and snacks they would be most interested in eating. From this data, I made recommendations for the STG menu items to offer in Bremen High School District next school year. My preceptor decided that the district will not include snack boxes with hard boiled eggs as the survey results showed a low interest in hard boiled eggs as snacks.
Since my preceptor is a district manager, I was uniquely fortunate to have interesting discussions with her about her work experience and her vision for the growth of Bremen High School District’s food service experience. Overall, I am grateful to have had such a diverse experience at Bremen High School District and will take with me a lot of knowledge about management and school nutrition opportunities!
