With new menu items, hard work and quality food, Merced Union HIgh School District’s Nutrition Services served over one million meals this past school year. To celebrate the milestone, Lisa Mendoza, Director of Nutrition Services is hosting a barbeque for her staff this week. “It has been exciting for me to be a part of a team who love their work as much as I do,” Mendoza said. “And they are wanting to do more.”

Mendoza’s staff of 68 spread across all MUHSD campuses combined to serve 1,013,072 meals during the 2024-25 school year. That was an increase of 17,872 meals from the previous school year. “The staff put their minds to the goal and did what it took to create meals that were appetizing and appealing,” Mendoza said. She also applauded her staff for being able to serve students in a timely manner, avoiding long lines and she said her staff encouraged students to try new things.

Many of the food options offered on campuses were made from scratch. Mendoza said her staff opted to come up with seasonal menus, introducing a rotation of hot items in the fall, winter and spring. Students had options like homemade pozole, a barbeque chicken plate, a nacho line that included carne asada, chicken wings with options for different sauces, chili verde plates, chicken salad wraps, buffalo chicken wraps, beef and broccoli, baked potato bards, build a hot dog stations and the staff even created different homemade salsas.

“In creating these options we took the time to find quality products and foods that either remind or duplicate what students eat when they are not in school,” Mendoza said. “But making sure to use quality products like fresh meats, local produce and fresh baked breads. Presentation is everything so how we packaged the entrees (mattered) as students eat with their eyes.”

The staff had come close to hitting the million meal milestone before but fell just short. Mendoza said they knew they were coming close last May and really put in a final push to hit the mark. “The staff took on the task and put all their heart into creating the recipes,” Mendoza said. “Some even added their own little touch to the new recipes. It was a lot of work at first, but as they heard the positive feedback from students it made them want to do more.”

Mendoza says they are working on new menu items for this year and have a bigger goal as they look to surpass last year’s total of meals served. “This year we started the year with new menu items and preparing for National School Lunch Week October 13th when we are introducing foods from around the world,” Mendoza said. “The goal this year is 1,025,000. We can do it!”

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.