Confessions of Katie Wilson

Katie Wilson, school nutrition director at 2,800-student Onalaska Schools in Wisconsin, says stay away from Civil War-themed events and Rocky Mountain Oysters.

Q. What is the best part of your job?

The variety and all the different things I get involved in.

Q. What is the worst part of your job?

Personnel issues. It seems like people have more and more baggage.

Q. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Being president of the School Nutrition Association.

Q. What is the most unusual foodservice/catering request you have ever received?

We did a Civil War meal on a field to replicate what it would have been like in the infantry. It was with eighth-graders. It was not pleasant.

Q. Which talent would you most like to have?

I would love to be able to sing.

Q. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Learn to slow down a little.

Q. What is your greatest fear?

Heights.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

Madeleine Albright. She is a strong but sensitive woman. She is professional and intelligent.

Q. What is your favorite meal?

Lobster.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure?

Shopping—I love to shop.

Q. What will people always find in your refrigerator?

Beer.

Q. What food fad do you wish had never started?

Low fat.

Q. What is the weirdest food you have ever eaten?

Rocky Mountain Oysters. I didn’t know what it was at the time until I had put it in my mouth.

Q. What do you consider to be the most overrated foodservice trend?

Healthfulness of salad bars.

Q. What are your words to live by?

“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”—Maya Angelou