Student restaurant runs afoul of school nutrition guidelines

FARGO, N.D. — A newspaper story about a group of culinary students has led to restrictions on the types of food they can prepare.

The Fargo Forum wrote about Fargo Davies High School students, who this month started a restaurant, called The Nest, for students and the public.

The school soon got a call from someone complaining about the students’ failure to adhere to controversial school nutrition guidelines implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Our food director got a call saying they weren’t following guidelines,” Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Schatz told Watchdog.

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction spokesman Dale Wetzel said the guidelines apply.

“The student-run restaurant at Fargo Davies, and another one that is opening shortly at Fargo South, both have to comply with the new, stricter USDA nutrition rules that affect calorie counts, sodium content, etc. because they sell food to students,” he said via email. “This does not mean the restaurants can’t operate, but they have to do their menu planning within the boundaries of these nutrition rules.”

The Nest which is open 10:40 a.m to 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Students are responsible for planning the menu, preparing the food and serving it to customers, who can even place orders online. It seems the project will continue, albeit with diminished menu options.