THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606040125
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: PEOPLE AND PLACES
SOURCE: Kathryn Darling
LENGTH: 81 lines
Lisa Lord wasn't looking for work when the food service manager of her son's elementary school stopped her in the hallway and asked her if she wanted to work in the cafeteria.
Lord didn't even ask what the job entailed - she just said, ``Yes.'' After her last job as an associate manager at a fast-food restaurant, Lord had decided she needed something that fit her family's schedule. And with three children enrolled at the school, working in the cafeteria would be perfect - no more nights and weekends, she said.
Lord, now child nutrition manager at Sherwood Forest Elementary, started out as a cashier in the lunchroom at Ingleside Elementary. She did anything that needed to be done, she said. Her shift didn't begin until 11 a.m., but since she brought her kids in when school began, she would help with serving or being a cashier for breakfast or would wash dishes, she said.
Lord was given more and more responsibility. Three years ago, she was promoted to child nutrition manager.
In her job, Lord says she directs and assists in food preparation and serving, schedules the employees, and ensures the food and dishes are handled safely. Also, each year she develops a nutritional promotion for the students.
This year, Lord created class activities to celebrate National Apple Month in November. Every Tuesday for eight weeks starting in October, students came into the cafeteria and made treats or crafts with apples. They made apple cookies, applesauce, apple butter, apple faces and apple wreaths.
The apple fest was successful. Not only did it win fifth place in a national contest, but it also created a lot of excitement and interest in the school, Lord said. So she developed a Nutritional Advisory Council made up of students from every grade.
The council learned about nutrition and developed programs such as food tastings to acquaint students with unfamiliar types of nutritional foods. They also planned and created a nutritious lunch that they served to special guests in the Norfolk public school system. To teach about the importance of breakfast, the council students put on a play about an unhappy alligator who isn't very pleasant when he doesn't eat the most important meal of the day.
The council, which won the Virginia Nutritional Advisory Council of the year award, will perform the play at the American School food conference in Norfolk in June.
Name: Elizabeth J. Lord.
Nickname: Lisa.
What brought you to Norfolk? The Navy first brought us to Norfolk in 1981. We spent three years in Puerto Rico during the late '80s and returned to Norfolk.
Birthplace: Sanford, Fla.
Birthdate: March 1, 1963.
Occupation: Child nutrition manager.
Marital status: Married to Richard.
Children: Four - Tasha, 16; Gregory, 13; Christoper, 12; Amanda, 3.
Last book read: ``Stiches In Time'' by Barbara Michaels.
Favorite show: ``X Files.''
Favorite magazine: School Food Service and Nutrition.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? A movie star because of all the glitz and glamour.
Biggest accomplishment: Winning Virginia Nutritional Advisory Council of the year, 1996.
Most embarrassing moment: The lead singer of a band at a banquet sat in my lap and in front of everyone sang a hoochie-koochie song to me.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be 50 pounds lighter.
Perfect way to spend the day: With my family at Northside Park.
Favorite vacation spot: Sitting by the pool in Sanford, Fla.
Pet peeve: People crossing the white line at a left-hand turn.
First job: Manned the french fry station at McDonald's.
Worst job: Dental assistant.
Hobbies: You name it, I do it - walking, ceramics, drawing, quilting, basket making, crocheting and painting.
Favorite restaurant: Olive Garden.
What do you like most about Norfolk? It's a nice place to live because it has such a variety of things to do.
What do you like least about Norfolk? Traffic. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MOTOYA NAKAMURA
Lisa Lord shows off an award from the Virginia Nutritional Advisory
Council. by CNB