Confessions of Linda Eichenberger

Linda Eichenberger, director of child nutrition services for the Oak Hills Local School District in Cincinnati, admires her father, would love to travel through Alaska by car, and wishes she could dance.

Q. What is the best part of your job?

Working with a team of child nutrition workers to feed children every day. The staff is dedicated and driven to serve the most nutritious, appealing meals possible.

Q. What is the worst part of your job?

The paperwork required to meet the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs keeps me in my office too much. It restricts the time I have to spend in the buildings/operations interacting with the children and staff.

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

Being a good mother and wife. My family is one of the most important things in my life. I enjoy spending as much time as possible with them.

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

Cicada Cookies to celebrate the 17-year brood.

Q. If you weren't in foodservice what would you be doing?

I would have been a doctor. I like to help people.

Q. If you had a time machine what historical event or era would you visit?

I would go back to 1975 to have a conversation with my mother, who passed away in 1976. I was only 20 years old at the time.

Q. Which talent would you most like to have?

I wish I could dance.

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

Have more patience.

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

My father, who is 88 years young and doing fantastic.

Q. What would be your dream vacation?

Visit Alaska by car to hike and camp. It is a beautiful part of our country.

Q. What is your favorite meal?

BBQ baby back ribs with a salad and baked potato (plain), steamed asparagus and a good glass of Merlot.

Q. If you could eat dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

My mother and her sisters.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure?

Candy, which I try not to eat.

Q. What will people always find in your refrigerator?

Milk, wine, grapefruit juice and beer.

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

Whole grain rich foods.

Q. What activity is at the top of your bucket list?

To hike the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in one season with my son.

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

When I was a child my mother would eat calves’ brains scrambled with eggs. I would taste it every so often to see if I liked it but that never happened.

Q. Are you a morning or evening person?

Morning person.

Q. What are your words to live by?

Be kind to people, stay active, enjoy life and live life to the fullest.