The Los Angeles Unified School District is bringing a fresh meaning to “meals on wheels” with the launch of its food truck program, offering a fun new way to fill bellies and fuel brains.
The first truck hit the streets last week and can serve up to 400 students at a time with a range of choices including tacos, dumplings, nachos, vegan dishes, chicken wings, salads, fruit and more. Three more trucks are in the works, so each of the district’s four regions will have a dedicated truck.
The trucks will be used to celebrate special occasions on campuses and increase students’ excitement about coming to school and eating freshly prepared food. Superintendent Carvalho, celebrity chef Jet Tila and other district officials gathered at the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center in Westlake on Sept. 8 to commemorate the launch of the truck and sample some of its offerings.
“No one can learn on an empty stomach,” said LAUSD Board Member Rocío Rivas. “The district’s meal program already provides regular nutrition through our campuses, and the Café LA food truck is a welcome festive addition that can provide more schools equitable access to healthy food for special occasions and celebrations.”
The program was made possible through a donation from the non-profit organization No Kid Hungry, and ongoing state funding from California Department of Education’s Kitchen Infrastructure and Training fund. The food truck service is run through the district’s Café LA division, which serves 525,000 meals daily.
“It is great to see how they (LAUSD) are launching new innovative initiatives to increase participation and get more students excited about school meals,” said No Kid Hungry California Program Manager Tommy Le. “We are incredibly proud to partner with Los Angeles Unified’s Café LA to reach many more students with the nutrition they need to achieve their dreams.”
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