It’s National School Lunch Week, a time to celebrate school cafeterias and the healthy options they provide to students.

This year’s theme is “School Lunch: Recipes for Success,” in which lunches meet strict nutrition standards such as limits on sodium, calories, and unhealthy fats. Mid-Prairie Head Cook Amber Kempf describes what their lunch program offers, “Everyday we offer two vegetables and a fruit in addition to their main meal and their bread item. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, that just creates a lot of waste,’ but I think it’s really important that the kids are introduced and exposed to a variety of fruits and vegetables.” Kempf adds that even her own child has been exposed to red pepper strips at school, something she doesn’t typically serve at home.

According to the School Nutrition Association school lunch meals must require a three-fourths cup of vegetables, one cup of 1% or fat-free milk, one half-cup serving of fruit, and entrees must contain whole grains and lean protein. Kempf says the Mid-Prairie staff tries to prepare meals from scratch as much as possible. She adds that presentation is key to enticing kids to try new foods and helping kids understand eating fruits and vegetables is essential.