Queensbury Middle School students have a new, healthier lunch option packed inside a small refrigerator.
Food Services Coordinator Josh Hodge and Chef Steve Sutliff rolled out Healthy Bites this week along with a humus sampling for students in grades 6-8.
“Healthy Bites came about by trying to create a healthier alternative to everyday offerings,” Hodge said, “and walking around the cafeterias seeing a lot of students who bring their lunches from home that pack bento box-style meals.”
Healthy Bites are combinations of items like hummus with veggies and flatbread, cheese with grapes and flatbread, peanut butter with fruit, veggies and crackers, Greek yogurt with fruit and granola, hard boiled eggs with fruit, veggies and crackers, and deli meat with cheese, veggies and crackers packed in a clear plastic bento box-type container.
“This is a complete meal,” Hodge said. “We’re trying to get the kids who don’t necessarily eat a traditional lunch. And it’s something they can grab and go.”
Healthy Bites is available for students to get for free as a lunch. Grab-and-go salads will also be featured in the cooler at the middle school for another healthier lunch option.
“We are hoping we can get our normal buyers to try something new,” Hodge said, “but also entice someone who normally doesn't get school lunch to try it, since all meals are free.”
They will start offering these items at the high school next Tuesday as well.