High school cafeteria sees growth after leaving federal lunch program

School officials at Bozeman High School in Bozeman, Mont., have noticed an increase in sales and satisfaction in its cafeteria one year after pulling out of the federal school lunch program and forfeiting a government subsidy, according to a report by Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

The cafeteria served an average of 800 to 1,400 customers a day this school year, compared to 600 a day last year, Bob Burrows, supervisor of Bozeman High’s foodservice program, told the Chronicle.

Current food options at the cafeteria still meet previous federal regulations and are close to the new standards imposed by the federal lunch program.

The decision to opt out of the federal lunch program came after student participation plummeted, according to Burrows.

The high school’s open-campus policy is the cafeteria's biggest pain point, school board trustee Heide Arneson said, as students can easily access off-campus eateries that do not regulate salt, fat and sugar. Serving lunches that meet federal regulations may be healthier but also drives students away, she told the Chronicle.

“Thirty percent of the a la carte items are non-compliant,” Burrows said in an interview with FoodService Director. “That 30% accounts for 70% of total dollar sales.”

Sales of a la carte items increased about $100,000, which helped almost completely offset the federal subsidy loss, as the high school has low eligibility for free and reduced-rate lunches.

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Despite backing out of the program, Bozeman High continues to keep both student preferences and nutrition in mind. The school this year added menu items like creamy chicken pesto and banh mi tacos that meet 95% of the federal nutrition standards. Burrows said he is also considering a switch to healthier beverages after receiving criticism for serving high-sugar drinks.

Burrows expects the school to exceed the break-even mark by next school year.