Recipe Development Assignment: 50 servings of baked spaghetti

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I spent this past week in the food and nutrition office learning everything a department must do when being audited.  Because of the current economic situation, the school district is currently undergoing a financial audit, which analyzes how efficiently taxpayers’ dollars are being spent in the school district.  The food and nutrition services department is extremely efficient and keeps a tight handle on the budget so we did not have much to worry about.  But it was great experience to witness how a school nutrition program reacts when put under the microscope. 
On Friday I spent the day at an elementary school making and giving out 50 servings of baked spaghetti for a recipe development assignment.  Trying to devise an original recipe that matched the cost, nutrition and acceptability requirements was extremely tricky, but this internship is meant to push and challenge me, and challenge me it did. The spaghetti bake went extremely well with the kids that I gave samples to!  Many of the comments on the surveys were very positive including “tastes like heaven” and “I would like this on the school menu.”  My favorite comment of all was “It tastes like candy”!  I am not sure my spaghetti bake tasted like candy but if I can get kids to eat whole grain spaghetti noodles in a healthy recipe and like it, everybody wins!  I am excited for this recipe to be placed on the menu for the school district.  I have the week off for the Thanksgiving holiday but look forward to starting a 5 week nutrition education rotation the week I get back.

By: Amanda Bot