Today is School Lunch Hero Day in SD

Today is School Lunch Hero Day – a day to celebrate the work and dedication of school nutrition professionals.

Cheriee Watterson, director of Child and Nutrition Services for the South Dakota Department of Education, said that with this year’s COVID-19 crisis, “School Lunch Hero” takes on a whole new meaning.  School nutrition professionals across the state immediately stepped up to ensure that students continue to receive healthy meals even when school buildings are closed.

School nutrition employees balance many roles and follow federal, state, and local regulations to ensure safe and healthy meals are available in schools. 

More than sixteen million healthy lunches and over four-and-a-half million nutritious breakfasts were served in South Dakota schools during the 2018-19 academic year.