For the past few years, students at McNary Heights Elementary have had the chance to sample new recipes and share their opinions through the district’s Taste Test program. Led by Nutrition Educator Lourdes Yparraguirre, the program gives students a voice in their meals while encouraging them to try something new.
This fall, the program expanded to include students at Columbia Vista Intermediate, giving even more students the chance to participate. So far this year, students have sampled three new recipes – Chicken Salad, Carrot, Jícama, and Orange Salad, and Pineapple Salsa.
After tasting each item, students cast their votes at the “voting table,” choosing whether they liked it, kind of liked it, or didn’t like it. The feedback helps the Nutrition Department decide which recipes might be added to menus or featured on the salad bar.
Thanks to the results, the Chicken Salad has already been added to the regular school menu, while the other two items are being considered as new options for the salad bar.
“We want the students’ opinions in our menu. We want to give them food that they like and are going to eat,” said Lourdes Yparraguirre
For Lourdes, that feedback is the heart of the program – it not only helps shape future menu options but also sparks curiosity and excitement about food.
“One thing I really enjoy is seeing how honest the students are when they vote,” said Xenia Velasco, the district’s multimedia specialist. “Even when they show up with friends who have different opinions, they still stick to what they really like. It’s great to see them being true to their own tastes.”
The results from each tasting help guide future decisions and inspire new recipes that balance student preferences with what’s practical for kitchen staff to prepare. Past tastings have even led to some of the most popular menu items now served across the district.
With more tastings planned for the year, the program continues to be a simple but meaningful way for students to explore new foods and help shape what ends up on their lunch trays.