Decorah Community School District’s Nutrition Department has received an additional Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award for making improvements to the nutritional quality of the district’s school breakfasts.

Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids, Decorah received the Breakfast Trailblazer Award for their work in moving breakfast menus in the direction of protein-rich foods. Nutrition Director and Culinary Specialist Chad Elliott tries to avoid serving grain-based desserts for breakfast in middle and high school–instead serving eggs, meats, and Country View Dairy yogurt and cheese in various dishes. For example, their breakfast burrito, which contains scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese rolled up in a tortilla and is served with salsa, has become very popular.

Although elementary students seem to enjoy any breakfast item that is accompanied by pancake syrup, Elliott is gradually adding more protein items to these elementary breakfast menus. For instance, a sausage patty is included on waffle day, and a lower in sugar local yogurt is offered on pancake day to encourage young students’ palates into consuming healthier protein-rich foods.

Elliott commented, “The phrase ‘Learning begins with nutrition’ has become our nutrition department’s battle cry. We want to serve our students a healthy and sustaining breakfast so they are ready to take on the day!”

“We congratulate Decorah Nutrition Department on this important achievement,” said Rob Bisceglie, Executive Officer & President for Action for Healthy Kids. “The Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards are an opportunity to showcase innovative school nutrition practices that provide children with access to nutritious school meals.”

Healthy school meals are an essential part of the school environment and a proven tool for improving a child’s health, growth, development, and educational outcomes. Learn more about the Healthy Meals Incentives at www.healthymealsincentves.org.

Kris Lowery, Decorah High School, making the very popular yogurt parfaits.

Paulette Darling, Carrie Lee Elementary, serving up some waffles.