Sodexo, the Academy’s meal provider, is making gradual changes in the cafeteria to encourage students to make healthy choices in food selections.

Erin Awai, Sodexo manager, said, “Sodexo has this health and wellness approach and we want to be very embedded with our students to make sure that we are providing healthy foods and that we are very transparent in what we do.”

For the lower school menu, a visual stoplight system is being incorporated in phases. Food will be labeled in three colors: red, yellow and green. Red labels indicate foods that should be eaten no more than once a week. Yellow labels show foods which are high in nutrients but should be limited to one serving a day. Green labels represent  foods which are essential to a healthy diet and should be eaten as often as possible. This system of color-coding foods will be fully in place by November.

Students in JK through third grade are restricted in their purchases, but fourth graders can visit the snack bar for the first time. To ensure that not just junk food is consumed, fourth graders can only buy ice cream on Fridays. Grades five and up are able to buy lunch at the snack bar as well.

For grades 7 and up, an app called “My Fitness Pal” is available to keep track of eating habits. Because Sodexo’s recipes are on the app, students can type in what they had for lunch and view the nutritional values.

Students and parents can also utilize MealTime Online (located under “links” on the Sacred Hearts Edline home page). MealTime Online allows students and parents to track cafeteria purchases and costs.

Students seem to like the healthy changes the cafeteria is making.

Freshman Jade Spallina said, “I think the color-coding system is helpful. When I was choosing a food for lunch, I saw that it was a red color so I went for something else.”
Freshman Kiley Ozaki also liked the changes. “I think the color system for the cafeteria is different. I think that some people aren’t gonna look at the colors even if they color-coded the food because they’re hungry and just want something to eat, but I also think that the system could be helpful to people if they’re trying to be healthy.”

Awai’s goal is to make students more health conscious in their eating habits.

“My vision is to have students have a better understanding of what they’re eating and putting into their bodies. Some of the students spend all day here: breakfast, lunch, recess and some are involved in after-school activities. They’re going to need something to fuel their bodies. Instead of just doing pizzas and burgers, I want to try something a little more innovative. I want them [the students] to be excited to try something new. That’s my goal, for the student body to eat healthier.”