GONZALES — Gonzales Unified School District has been recognized nationally for its innovative approach to school nutrition, receiving three Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service, in partnership with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK).
The district was honored with awards for Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals, as well as Small and/or Rural School Food Authority (SFA) Breakfast Trailblazer and Lunch Trailblazer. These distinctions highlight GUSD’s efforts to enhance the nutritional quality of school meals while engaging students and supporting lifelong healthy eating habits.
“As the Director of Nutrition Services, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the USDA and Action for Healthy Kids for recognizing our efforts to foster lifelong healthy eating habits among our students,” said Justin Johnson, Director of Nutrition Services for GUSD. “This achievement would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of our incredible staff, who ensure that every GUSD student receives a nutritious, wholesome meal each and every day.”
GUSD has implemented a variety of strategies to improve its meal programs, including scratch cooking, offering locally sourced fruits and vegetables, and reducing sugar and sodium levels across menus. The district has also expanded its breakfast and lunch offerings and integrated student engagement and nutrition education into meal planning.
AFHK and USDA note that Lunch Trailblazer Award winners like GUSD have met weekly sodium guidelines while promoting student engagement. Breakfast Trailblazer Award winners have successfully limited added sugars and included nutrition education. The Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals Award recognizes school districts for developing new scratch-cooked recipes using local or USDA-sourced ingredients, in accordance with USDA recipe standards, while incorporating student input.
“We congratulate Gonzales Unified School District on this important achievement,” said Rob Bisceglie, executive officer and president for Action for Healthy Kids. “The HMI Recognition Awards are an opportunity to showcase innovative school nutrition practices that provide children with access to nutritious school meals.”
As part of the recognition, GUSD will receive both local and national attention, along with travel stipends to attend the upcoming Healthy Meals Summit, which brings together leaders and innovators in school nutrition.
The Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative is part of a broader effort to support schools in aligning their meal programs with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. AFHK and USDA continue to emphasize the importance of school meals as a critical factor in improving children’s health, academic performance, and long-term development.
More information about the Healthy Meals Incentives initiative can be found at healthymealsincentives.org.
