The Nutrition Group presented a sample of different foods and drinks available in the district’s cafeterias ahead of a recent meeting of the Tamaqua Area School Board.

Hot honey chicken flatbread, tortellini salad, Mandarin chicken and beef empanadas were on the menu, along with iced coffees, such as caramel, and boba teas and drinks, including strawberry and lavender.

Amy Hehn, director of food and nutrition, talked about the food options, as well as programs designed to engage students in new food options.

The Nutrition Group this year is stressing being the spark by treating students as their guests and encouraging them, such as adding positive messages to salad and wrap containers, she said.

Hehn said that the free breakfasts and lunches came in under budget last year, but the a la carte sales were over budget but still produced a profit managing the budget in other areas, she said.

The Nutrition Group participates in holiday events, such as the safe trick-or-treat at the stadium, giving out candy — along with raisins, while getting out the message about free breakfast and lunch for students.

“We’re always trying to remind kids and make sure that everybody knows that those free meals are available,” Hehn said. “Surprisingly, we still had an 11th grader this week that didn’t know he could get breakfast for free.”

The Nutrition Group also looks for fun things for the kids, such as embracing national food days, such as National Popcorn Day or National Grilled Cheese Day, she said.

Board Vice President Nicholas Boyle said The Nutrition Group’s annual year in review presentation is one of his favorite meetings with all the offerings presented.

Board President Larry Wittig said that 30 years ago the district had food services in-house and was losing $100,000 a year so the board moved on outsourcing.

“Every time that there’s a meal presentation like this, it validates the decision we made many, many years ago,” he said. “They do it better and cheaper than we could ever imagine doing it.”