SoFla School Lunch Strives to Stay Healthy

Healthy fast food chain Evos' healthy meals just one way cafeterias can cut some calories

"Well this is my new day, beginning of my day," Yolanda Rodriguez said with a smile while coming to work.
 
The school cafeteria worker clocks in at 6:45 every morning.
 
"We've got cucumbers," she said pointing at vegetables in the kitchen. "We try to cut it into very tiny pieces," she adds, dicing some celery.
 
The food she's preparing heads into the mouths of hundreds of youngsters, and every item is strictly checked for nutritional value.

After all, 14 percent of adolescents in the U.S. are overweight, and, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the number of overweight teens has nearly tripled in the last 20 years.
 
"They're looking for the amount of protein, vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates and making sure they follow the food guide pyramid," says Supervisor Dr. Debbie Wiggins.
 
Students like Robert Rosario and Benjamin Martinez said they love school lunch.
 
"I never really tried the tacos, but I love the salads." Rosario said.
 
Martinez said he really likes the tacos, as well as the salads.

Be honest.

"Yes, I really do," Martinez chimed in.
 
Roland Rafuls, owner of Evos Restaurant in Pinecrest, is working to get more meals students like into the lunchroom.
 
"We're getting a lot of response from schools wanting to try out our program and our food for their schools," he said.
 
Nationwide, the company partners with schools. Parents pay and order online. Then Evos delivers the meals to the school in time for lunch, offering an alternative to traditional school lunches.
 
"We're not a health food restaurant, just traditional fast food, just a lot better for you,” he added, pointing to fruits, veggies, and whole grain chips.

Evos managers say kids eat up to 50 percent of their daily calories during school lunch. So the company is offering a portion of proceeds from its healthy lunch program back to schools that participate.
 
School lunch workers in Broward schools also have to take nutrition classes periodically to make sure they keep up on the latest health trends.
           
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