Illinois school districts proactive in making healthful menu changes

Ten-year-old Denise Bush said the chicken patty sandwich is “mostly my favorite” school lunch.

“My mom cooks it, and it’s really good,” she said.

Luckily for the pigtailed fourth-grader, that was one of the items on the menu Thursday in the Cool Caf at Lake in the Hills Elementary School, 519 Willow St. in Carpentersville, Ill.

And while a chicken patty sandwich might sound unhealthy, the chicken is oven-baked, not deep-fried, with whole wheat breading, according to Scott Rodgers, general manager of Aramark, School District 300’s food service provider. It’s also served on a whole wheat bun, not white bread, he added.