Students at Tennessee Middle School and Viking Academy got a taste of what could be coming to their lunch menus next year as part of a special food-tasting event. Led by Jennifer Burleson, director of school nutrition, the event gave students the opportunity to sample a variety of breakfast and lunch items before they are considered for next year’s school menu.
With a spread that included Cheesy Hot Chicken Bites, Maple Flatbread with Swaggerty Sausage, Cinnamon Toast Bites, and even Jalapeño Cornbread, students were encouraged to cast their votes for or against each item. A simple green-for-yes, red-for-no system made it easy to gauge their favorites.
“This is a mini food show for our students before we finalize our menus and order our commodity items for next year,” Burleson explained. “They get to try chicken items, sausage, pizza, and even a honey Uncrustable.”
In total, 104 students participated—84 from TMS and 20 from Viking Academy. The results showed a clear divide in student preferences. Some items, like the Pizza Cruncher and Maple Flatbread with Sausage, were clear winners, while others, like Breakfast Pizza and Jalapeño Cornbread, received a more mixed response.
The tasting was made possible through Food Sales East, a brokerage firm that represents various food brands and was coordinated through NETCO (Northeast Tennessee Cooperative), a co-op that serves school systems across the region.
While the votes have been counted, the decision-making process is still ongoing. Burleson and her team will use the feedback to determine which items make the final cut for next year’s school menus. “We want to make sure we’re serving food that students enjoy while also meeting nutrition guidelines,” she said.
For now, students can take pride in knowing they played a role in shaping their future meals—one bite at a time.
