Celebrating 10 Years of School Meals: A Reflection from the Nutrition Supervisor

This year, we proudly celebrate 10 years of our school nutrition program at the Academy for GOD! As we look back on a decade of serving minimally processed, made-from-scratch meals with farm-to-school foods, we reflect on the efforts that have shaped our students' health and futures. Breann Chigumira, our dedicated Nutrition Supervisor, shares her testimony on the impact of this program and the privilege of guiding it from its humble beginnings to what it is today.

Nourishing the Future

“When the program first started, I knew this was a huge opportunity to impact the health of our students well into their adult years,” shares Breann. “We wanted to shape their eating habits, fuel their days, and expose them to new and healthy foods.”

In 2014, our program began with about 80 students, serving both breakfast and lunch every day. The mission was simple but ambitious: to create meals from scratch, with an emphasis on minimal processing and wholesome ingredients. “We made everything we could in-house, from salmon patties and tartar sauce to pizza dough and sauces. We even cut up whole pineapples to avoid fruits in sugary syrup,” recalls Breann. “The workload was intense, but the goal was always clear: to ensure our students had access to nutritious meals.”

Expert Culinary Leadership

From the outset, our program required a skilled culinary team to execute the vision. Breann served as our Executive Chef in the early years, drawing from her experience in college meal programs. As the program grew, we welcomed Mr. Rafa Reyes, a seasoned chef with over a decade of experience who brought his unique touch to our school menu. Today, our kitchen is led by Mr. John Edmondson, whose impressive background includes roles as the Executive Chef at Dodger Stadium and in 5-star dining. Their expertise and passion have been essential to maintaining the high quality of our meals.

Farm-to-School: A Core Value

Farm-to-school has been a cornerstone of our program since day one. With an on-campus garden, students have had the chance to work in the soil, harvest vegetables, and even pick fruits for their meals. “Seeing students pick lettuce, kale, and tomatoes that end up on their plates is a powerful lesson in sustainability and food origins,” says Breann. Long before the farm-to-school movement gained national momentum and funding, our garden staff were teaching students safe agricultural practices and the value of local food systems.

Overcoming Challenges, Celebrating Success

Balancing the demands of creating nutritious meals, adhering to regulations, and working within tight budgets has not always been easy. But as Breann reflects, “The challenge of feeding students excellent meals while meeting all guidelines is tough, but our students are worth it. We truly believe they are benefitting from years of learning healthy habits.”

Today, as we celebrate this milestone, we are grateful for everyone who has contributed to the success of this program—from our Founder and Head of School, Gregg Garner, to dedicated kitchen staff to our farm-to-school educators, and of course, our students who inspire us every day. The hundreds of thousands of meals we've served over the past decade are a testament to our commitment to their well-being.

A Decade in Photos: From Elementary to Senior Year

Below, you’ll find photos that capture the journey of our students with their school lunches—from their earliest elementary years to now, as some prepare to graduate as seniors. These images reflect not just the growth of the students, but the evolution of a program that has fed bodies, minds, and futures for the past ten years.

We are proud of how far we've come and look forward to continuing to nourish our students for years to come!

Globally Conscious Meal Times

At the Academy our mission is to holistically educate children, which occurs throughout their entire day whether in the classroom, at recess or at lunch. It is important to ensure that all aspects of a schools program reflect the mission and vision of the school. Part of the Academy’s Mission is to educate children to be “Globally Conscious.” 

Globally Conscious as defined by our Mission Statement: “highlights an awareness of culture, race, customs, language, and perspective. Students will know that they are a part of a diversely beautiful world designed by God, where perspective taking becomes an inherent mode of interaction.”

During lunch, this value is demonstrated by introducing students to culturally diverse meals. Learning to eat a meal from another culture can start at a very early age and will allow students to have a diverse pallet into adulthood. Including culturally diverse meals isn’t just about giving students options, it is rooted in teaching them about world outside of themselves. Students can truly learn to appreciate other ways of life by learning to eat foods that taste and smell different from what they may normally eat. 

Our students in particular are given the opportunity to travel to El Salvador on mission and even other culturally diverse populations in Tennessee. It is utmost importance that they learn to adapt to other cultures and appreciate foods that are prepared for them by other communities. 

Over the years we have implemented culturally diverse meals in a variety of ways. We introduced bone in chicken one year, which for many young students was new. Students learned that people around the world eat their meals regularly with meat still on the bone. Students one year had a special class featuring fruits around the world and had the chance to eat anything from Lychee to Papaya. On another occasion students had a class where they were learning about Japanese culture and we served a special meal of Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls). Other years we have introduced Thai Curry, along with Indian and Greek entrees. 

We hope that all of our students can learn this important value of global consciousness in our cafeteria and step into adulthood with an ability to appreciate people from other cultures.

Pure Pastures Farm Owners Testify to Partnership Success

The Academy for GOD’s meal program has been blessed by the positive impact of the partnership with Pure Pastures Farm. Collaborations like these not only benefit businesses but also create a sense of community and mutual support. We recently received a video from the farm’s owners with a little history behind why they love supporting schools like ours. Hearing about their growing practices adds an extra layer of transparency and authenticity to our partnership, giving us valuable insights into the source of the products. As a farm to school meal program, we look forward to the future as a partner with Pure Pastures Farm!

Academy Meal Program Mini-Documentary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Academy for GOD Celebrates a Decade of Success with its Innovative Farm-to-Table School Meal Program

Old Hickory, TN — In 2015, The Academy for GOD commenced its farm to school meal program to address the way students experience school meals. Today, as we celebrate the anniversary of our Farm-to-Table School Meal Program, we reflect on a decade of growth, sustainability, and nourishing the minds and bodies of our K-12 students.

This milestone is marked by the release of a 21 minute mini-documentary that captures the essence of our Farm-to-Table initiative and the positive impact it has had on our school community. The documentary gives a view into our school garden and other local farms where some of our produce and meat is sourced to the bustling school cafeteria where our dedicated staff transforms fresh, locally sourced ingredients into delicious and nutritious meals.

Key highlights of the mini-documentary include:

• Origins of the Program: Explore the vision and mission that led to the inception of the Farm-to-Table School Meal Program in 2015. Hear from the key stakeholders who championed this innovative approach to school nutrition.

• Local Partnerships: Learn about the strong partnerships forged with local farmers and producers. Witness the collaborative efforts that ensure our students have access to high-quality, seasonal ingredients while supporting the local economy.

• Educational Impact: Discover how the program extends beyond the cafeteria, becoming an integral part of the educational experience. Students are engaged in hands-on learning experiences, from planting seeds to understanding the nutritional value of the foods they consume.

• Health and Wellness: Hear testimonials from educators, parents, and nutrition experts about the positive impact of the Farm-to-Table initiative on student health and overall well-being.

• Community Engagement: Explore the ways in which the program has brought the community together. From farm visits to community events, witness the sense of pride and unity that has blossomed around our commitment to sustainable, locally sourced meals.

This mini-documentary not only commemorates our journey but also serves as an inspiration for other school districts looking to implement sustainable and healthy meal programs.

For press inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:

Ms. Breann Chigumira

Academy School Nutritionist & Meal Program Coordinator

Breann.Chigumira@academyforgod.org

The Academy for GOD

401 Center St. Old Hickory, TN 37138

615-722-7107

info@academyforgod.org

www.academyforgod.org

5 Ways School Meals Can Address Picky Eating

Many school age children elementary ages through high school have difficulties with being ‘picky’ eaters. How do we overcome these hurdles to picky eating? School can be a great place for students to try new foods and it is a unique setting to do so. 

1. Menu Diversity

Most schools, including the Academy, has a rotating menu in which students are exposed to about 10 different menu options throughout the entire semester. Each item exposes students to a new flavor profile and set of ingredients along with many different fruit and vegetables. We are required to meet minimums in regards to types of vegetables. We are not permitted to just serve 1 or 2 types of vegetables all week but instead have to ensure everything from dark greens to legumes are represented each week. This ensures students are exposed to a variety of nutrients and types of foods, which over time allows them to expand their palate. 

2. Positive Peer Pressure

When students see other students positively receiving items and they are more likely to try out those foods. At times picky eating can become a battle of the wills between parent and the child. Students sometimes just need a change in setting! When they are in the cafeteria surrounded by other students eating school lunch they let their guard down and will even eat new foods because they see other students doing so. 

3. Try it and Try it Again

In the long term eating school meals will allow the student greater growth in terms of what they are willing to eat. Though they may start out not eating much or only trying a few items over time students begin to adapt and grow. The change will take time, but even a bite of a new item is a huge win for students who are struggling. It takes at least 15-20 times of trying a new item for children to adapt or start liking a new food, the repetition will take time but will pay off in the long term. The school menu allows for some repetition but enough diversity that the student doesn’t feel they are eating the same thing everyday. 

4. Resolves Decision Fatigue

Packing lunches can be a challenge, school lunches take away the fatigue that comes in trying to meal plan and ensure your student is being pushed to try new things. School meals can benefit picky eaters ensuring that your student doesn’t get in a rut of only asking for or eating certain items. Though packed lunches can have some diversity over time it can be difficult to keep up with what your student should be eating or fight them when it comes to what they want you as the parent to pack.

5. Empowers Your Student

The lunch line can become a time for your student feel empowered to make some decisions on their own. Meal times are often a time when students have small choices to make, which vegetables they want, which sauces to choose, etc. These moments allow the student feel empowered to make decisions and yet still receive a healthy meal. 


School meals can truly support you, as the parent, in your journey to teaching your child to eat nutritious food. Though it is not always an easy route over time, students can and will adapt, learn and grow which is exactly what they are at school to do, whether in the classroom or at meal time.