Mexico (WSYR-TV) -- Students in the Mexico School District have cast their votes on whether or not to keep a Rachael Ray recipe on the school lunch menu.
Students at the middle school voted 135 to 35 in favor of the new dish.
Food Service Manager Morgan Wisner says the reaction from students at the high school was much the same.
The dish features whole wheat pasta, with turkey and oriental vegetables. The only negative feedback the school received about the new menu item was a “salty flavor.” Wisner says that’s caused by the soy sauce in the recipe.
Rachael Ray recipes on the menu at some Oswego County schools
January 11, 2012
Mexico (WSYR-TV) – All week, students at some Oswego County schools have been trying out a new dish and casting thier votes on whether or not they like it and if they would eat it again.
Since students’ top priorities don’t always include how healthy a food item is, schools are turning to non-traditional sources like celebrity cook Rachael Ray.
On Wednesday, middle school and high school students in Mexico sampled Ray’s chicken-noodle bowl.
“The base has a whole-wheat pasta and that was marinated and then we’re using cut-up turkey and we’re using oriental vegetables,” said Mexico Food Service Manager Morgan Wisner.
The new dish brings some unique flavors to give students more menu options when they walk through the lunch line.
“We know that tacos are popular, chicken patties are popular, and pizza is popular and we just want to incorporate a few new things and ethnic foods go over very well,” Wisner said.
Wisner says the district has been finding ways to incorporate good nutritious food items into meals that are attractive to students.
“Whole-wheat items…sometimes you have to sneak through. Fruits and vegetables…sometimes you have to sneak those through,” Wisner said.
Students in Hannibal and Oswego have already given the noodle bowl a thumbs up.
Mexico will hold their student vote Thursday to decide if the Rachael Ray creation will become a permanent menu item. If it gets the okay, the district plans to add other Rachael Ray recipes in the future.
