SCG Students Team Up with Child Nutrition Services to Improve SUESD Elementary School Menus

SCG Child Nutrition Services Survey

This past spring, our Student Leaders and Green Team members partnered with the Child Nutrition Services (CNS) Department to explore ways to improve the breakfast/lunch menu and cafeteria protocols.

The conversation began last winter, when students expressed a desire for more variety in lunch options and raised concerns about certain unpopular items that often led to food waste. Fortunately, The SUESD CNS Director, Amanda Timar, was already collaborating with New Brighton Middle School students on a survey and eagerly welcomed the opportunity to work with our elementary students at SCG as well. By offering a similar survey to SCG students, CNS was able to gather thoughtful and valuable feedback. This input is now helping shape improved menu options and more efficient cafeteria procedures - enhancing the lunch experience for everyone.

Check out the results of a survey co-created by our SCG Dolphins and the SUESD Child Nutrition Services team. Great work, everyone!

Reusable Trays at SCG

We’re making a big step toward sustainability - our school is now using blue plastic reusable lunch trays! These reusable trays are washed, rinsed, and sanitized in the kitchen everyday. This change means no more daily waste from disposable cardboard trays.

It’s a small change that makes a big impact!

Free Meals For All Students

Thanks to California’s Universal Meals Program and the Community Eligibility Provision, meals are provided to all our students at no cost.

Spring 2025 Santa Cruz Gardens CNS Survey Summary

Survey Results BLUE

Child Nutrition Services Response in RED

What new breakfast item would you like to see on the menu?

Breakfast Bowl , Breakfast Pizza

We plan to add new savory breakfast items to the menu next year.

What new lunch item would you like to see on the menu?

Chicken Teriyaki, Italian Meatballs with Garlic Bread

These items are served at the middle school and we hope to put them on

the elementary menu next year.

Fall 2025 update - Italian Meatballs are on the new menu - Oct 21!

Do you like the Domino’s Smart Slice Pizza that we serve?

80% of responders said that they would like to try a different pizza.

We hope to find a new pizza to serve for next year.

Fall 2025 update - SCG is no longer serving Domino’s Pizza.  Susana, the SCG CNS employee, is now baking pizza every Thursday!

What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?

Many students said watermelon, grapes, and mango.

We hope to add watermelon and grapes to the salad bar next year. Mangos,

unfortunately, are too expensive for us to buy.

Before you eat lunch in the cafeteria, do you usually talk about the menu

with your parent or guardian, or is it a surprise what’s being served?

More than half of the students do not know what is on the menu ahead of

time - lunch is a surprise!

We hope to change this next year. We would like for the students to plan

ahead and know what is for lunch to help reduce food waste.

We are always trying to reduce waste and promote sustainability. Do you

have a suggestion on how we can do better at this?

More green compost buckets, take unpopular entrees off of the menu, use

plastic trays instead of paper

These are all great suggestions that we hope to implement next year!

Thank you for filling out the survey. You gave CNS really helpful feedback!

Fall 2025 update - we are using reusable plastic trays at SCG!

SCG salad bar, always full of fresh fruits and veggies.  This month CNS special in season fruits are -  red and black plums, fresh strawberries and red grapes.

CNS bakes fresh blueberry muffins every Tuesday!