Do you have questions about Chatham County Schools free breakfasts and lunches?
Checkout this recent write-up by the Chatham Education Foundation: https://www.chathameducationfoundation.org/uncategorized/feeding-the-future-inside-chatham-county-schools-nutrition-program
Feeding 9,000 students every day is no small feat—but Chatham County Schools’ Nutrition Director Cecile Teague and her team make it happen with care, creativity, and a whole lot of planning. They run school kitchens like restaurants, working within tight budgets, federal nutrition rules, and picky kid preferences. And what our kids are eating each day may surprise you in a good way. For example:
-Corn dogs are made from chicken and have no nitrates or nitrites.
-Chicken strips are made from chicken breast, not manufactured chicken like you find at McDonald’s.
-Pizza crust is made from whole grain.
-Orange chicken is the same that’s sold at Trader Joe’s.
-Barbecue comes from Brookwood Farms in Siler City.
-Hamburger patties are premium meat.
-Juice boxes are 100% juice and include vegetable juice.
Even salads are freshly chopped by hand. The only non-whole grain item? Biscuits, and they’re only served twice a week.
And nutrition isn’t the only part of the meal planning puzzle – there’s food waste, federal and state guidelines, and financial costs to consider. Feeding thousands of kids every day isn’t just a service—it’s a massive, thoughtful operation.
Learn more at: https://www.chathameducationfoundation.org/uncategorized/feeding-the-future-inside-chatham-county-schools-nutrition-program.
Brittany Sandefur, MSW
Executive Director
Chatham Education Foundation
chathameducationfoundation.org.
From: Brittany Sandefur <brittany@cefmail.org>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 at 04:14:59 PM EDT
Subject: Inside Chatham County Schools’ Nutrition Program