Parents Invited to See How Students Fare at Lunch

The American School Food Service Assn. is celebrating its 50th anniversary with Take Your Family to Lunch Day, which is expected to draw thousands of people to sample food at more than 5,000 schools nationwide this week.

Several Orange County schools, including some in Anaheim, Irvine and Orange, are participating.

Officials said they hope to encourage parents to become more educated about school food programs, and to showcase new developments in nutritional standards and food preparation.

“When most parents think back on their days in the school cafeterias, they remember some pretty bland food and no choices,” said association spokeswoman Diane Schreiber.

“This will be a chance for them to see how far things have come. It’s incredible to see the differences in selection and quality.”

The event also coincides with the 33rd annual National School Lunch Week, established by President John F. Kennedy to focus attention on lunch programs, Schreiber said.

Parents and relatives of schoolchildren are invited to the participating schools, Schreiber said, where they will have a chance to speak with association representatives and food service professionals.

Some schools will offer free food samples, and others will offer meals at reduced prices, she said.

The local schools participating in Take Your Family to Lunch Day this week include:

Alexander J. Stoddard Elementary School, 1841 S. 9th St., Anaheim, Thursday and Friday; Benjamin Franklin Elementary, 521 W. Water St., Anaheim, Thursday; Lakeside Middle, 3 Lemongrass, Irvine, Thursday; Santiago Hills Elementary, 29 Cristamon, Irvine, Friday; Stone Creek Elementary, 2 Stone Creek South, Irvine, Oct. 23.

Some schools in the Orange Unified School District are also participating, officials said.

Information: (714) 999-3560.