Erie’s Public Schools has been named a recipient of the Healthy Meals Incentive Recognition Award, a national honor presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK). The award celebrates recipes developed by the district’s food service team in collaboration with Metz Culinary Management.
According to the district’s Wellness Director Caitlin Falk, the award represents progress toward the goal of making Erie’s Public Schools the healthiest in the Commonwealth. “A huge focus on our goal to be the healthiest district is to improve our nutrition offerings,” she said. “While all food by Metz has always met USDA Smart Snacks Standards, preparing meals from scratch is a way to make the food options even healthier.”
“This honor shines a spotlight on the dedication of our foodservice professionals and district leaders,” said Jennifer Patterson, General Manager for Metz Culinary Management at Erie’s Public Schools. “Together, we are proving that healthy, from-scratch meals can be both practical and appealing to students.”
The district’s submissions included a wide variety of options, such as a shawarma bar featuring halal chicken and handmade beef kofta, Mexican street corn, and six fruit-forward smoothies crafted with USDA-provided commodities. The recipes were part of a broader initiative supported by a five-year wellness grant awarded to Erie’s Public Schools. Along with the addition of new cultural menu items, the grant also funded enhanced nutrition education for students, families, and staff.
The award brings national visibility to Erie’s commitment to elevating school nutrition through creative, scratch-cooked meals that reflect both health standards and student cultural diversity. It is also an example of how Metz continually seeks to improve the nutritional value of the dishes they serve to K-12 students while offering them delicious meals they look forward to.