PWCS Food and Nutrition Department's 33rd annual Food Show

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) families, staff, and community members came together for the PWCS Food and Nutrition Department’s 33rd annual Food Show at Patriot High School.

This year’s theme was "Join Us at the Table!” The theme highlights the school division's commitment to involving students and the community in the menu development of school meals. Approximately 350 people tasted recipes contributed by PWCS students and staff through the PWCS Nutrition recipe contest.

“We were very excited to feature multiple student-developed recipes this year at our food show as a part of our student-driven menu development initiative. All recipes tested at the food show will be considered as options to add to our menu,” explained Andrea Early, director of food and nutrition.

“It is nice that they do this for us; for the parents to be able to taste the food that our kids are eating,” shared one parent in attendance.

A few of the new recipes this year included:

  • Burger bowl- winner of the recipe contest (Abbey Wilson, third grade teacher at Ashland Elementary School).
  • Butter chicken over rice – winner of the recipe contest (Jasraj Saini, seventh grade student at Benton Middle School).
  • Carol's curried vegetarian chili – winner of the recipe contest (Carol Tavernier, ESOL teacher at Yorkshire Elementary School).
  • Mysteriously delicious pizza- winner of the recipe contest (Charlotte Fair, seventh grade student at Bull Run Middle School).
  • Strawberry muffin squares- student developed recipe from the Freedom High School’s Intro to Culinary Class.

PWCS students were involved in several aspects of the food show. Students in Patriot High’s Culinary Program assisted with food preparation, and the Food and Nutrition Department staff wore shirts designed by Emily Hylton, a sophomore at Patriot, who won the National School Lunch Week T-Shirt Design Contest.

“I like to show people what we offer for the children. That is the best part for me,” Susana Lavery, food service associate with the Food and Nutrition Department, shared. “To get to know us and the food we serve.” Lavery has been a part of 28 out of the 33 annual food shows the school division has held.