Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407140083
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Hundreds of children, parents and school personnel sampled and rated cafeteria cuisine served by Montgomery County schools at the free festival sponsored by the county schools' nutrition program. The results of their ratings will determine the foods the schools will serve next year.
Sherrie Shumate, an 11-year-old who attends Christiansburg Middle School, came with grandmother Matilda Shumate and her mother, Sally Shumate, who just happens to be the cafeteria manager at Prices Fork Elementary School.
"Pizza is obviously the No.1 food," said Sally Shumate who has seen crisp carrots and celery thrown in the trash in favor of a slab of pizza. "And hot dogs, those are popular, too. "Now you bring out the vegetables and you're in trouble. And don't even think about serving anything new. Kids like to eat the same things over and over, and it's usually pizza."
Sherrie supported her mother's theory by stating that, yes, pizza is her favorite.
On the other side of the packed Christiansburg High School cafeteria - about 500 people showed up for the event - sat a group of six children, each surrounded by small plastic plates, miniature french fry baskets, used napkins and spilled drinks.
"There's a French cafe set up over there with French breadsticks and rolls and stuff," said a breathlessly excited Amanda Aley, an 11-year-old Christiansburg Middle School pupil. "You could eat them until you bust. I find myself veering over there everytime I get up."
Between mouthfuls of pizza, 10-year-old Matthew Cook described his favorite foods - french fries, dinosaur nuggets (dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets) and (of course) pizza.
The dinosaur nuggets are one of many new-fangled lunch items designed to appeal to children, while also being low in fat and salt, unlike former lunchroom favorites.
"Those dinosaur nuggets are yummy," he said.
Matthew's 7-year-old sister Lauren preferred french fries to the dinosaur nuggets but definitely did not like the "apple sticks," a strangely textured french-fried-looking morsel, fried on the outside and filled with a mushy apple-flavored substance.
Jeremy Flight, a 15-year-old Shawsville High and Middle School student, tried just about everything on the menu, and came to the same conclusion as his peers: pizza rules the roost.
"Especially the breakfast pizza," he said of a cheese and sausage pizza made with biscuit dough. "But there were these chicken things, I don't know what they were really, but they were crispy and burned. I didn't like them."
Students weren't the only ones present at Wednesday's food fair. School Superintendent Herman Bartlett wandered about and talked to people, but didn't eat.
"If I get started eating I'll never stop," he said, laughing and patting his stomach.
Rob Duckworth, principal of Gilbert Linkous Elementary School, his wife, Charlene, and their three young children sat in a corner sampling crackers, mini-hot dogs, juice and other things that young children without teeth can eat.
"I like cafeteria food," Charlene Duckworth said. "I remember when I was pregnant, I used to crave those rectangular sausage pizzas."
Michael Marcenelle, supervisor of the county's school nutrition program, coordinated the food fair, which is the first of its kind in Southwest Virginia.
"I'm very pleased with the turnout," Marcenelle said. "Especially with the turnout of high school and middle school students. The surveys will really help us learn what the kids like to eat."
by CNB