By instituting a family-style lunch program, this principal changed the tone of the lunch period and reduced waste. (IRT)

Realizing that custodians needed help with cafeteria cleanup and lunchtime discipline, a Michigan elementary school developed a Custodial Assistant Program enlisting the energies of 12 fifth and sixth graders who needed help in improving self-concept and behavior. In exchange for cleaning the cafeteria and playground, these students receive many…

Open-campus policies can devastate school lunch programs. Some school systems compete with fast-food outlets by offering similar menus; others hire private contractors to construct mall-like food courts. Several Colorado and California school districts have devised innovative programs to halt lunchtime flight without sacrificing nutrition. A…

To offset federal subsidy cutbacks, climbing food costs, and increasing wage demands, a Missouri school district hired a food management company. The district not only saved money, but also realized a profit, served more nutritious meals, needed less in-house recordkeeping, and concentrated more energy on education. (MLH)

Aseptic packages and the advantages of their use in schools are outlined. (MD)

Evaluates the use of computerized cash registers in school lunch programs. They provide accurate records on food items sold (listing them by categories), can save time, and may perform many other sophisticated functions that improve efficiency and accountability. (MD)

A special report on school food service discusses the following: (1) new directions in the federal commodities program; (2) cafeteria etiquette strategies; (3) menus and management for school breakfast programs; (4) balancing nutrition and cost effectiveness; and (5) recycling cafeteria waste. (MLF)

Local restaurant managers suggested ways for the Orcutt Union School District, California, to set up a centralized, self-service lunch program that has reduced labor and food costs. Instructions for ordering an information packet about the program from the district are provided. (MLF)

Schools are increasingly turning to fast-food restaurants such as Taco Bell, McDonald's, and Pizza Hut to fill the stomachs of kids turned off by standard school lunches. Kids are delighted, but critics say fast-food infiltration of school cafeterias encourages poor nutrition. Schools might consider adopting lighter fast-food fare or starting…

This year's budget cleaver has chopped away at school cafeteria budgets across the country. In some districts, this means fewer choices on the lunch line, fewer staffers, deteriorating equipment, and more sales of snack and processed foods. Some schools have dropped the School Lunch Program because of budget cuts. (MLH)