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

Providing Meals to Kids during a Pandemic

Written by School Nutritionist, Mrs. Breann Chigumira

Rafael Reyes ensures the food is not only nutritious, but delicious too! The meals are not just basic sandwiches but greek pitas, taco salads, pizza pasta and more.

Over the past 5 years at the Academy for G.O.D, I thought I had "seen it all" in terms of hurdles to us serving nutritional lunches to students. Tornados, severe weather, flooding, school cancellations because of sickness, construction of new school buildings on campus, and the list could continue. However, what none of us were prepared for was a pandemic that would begin to change what our 'new normal' would look like. We were looking at a total shutdown of 'in-person' classes, and our school made a choice to move to an online format for the rest of the semester.

However, I knew that we could not just stop our school's nutrition program altogether. During the school year we serve breakfast and lunch daily to students, and now more than ever students and their parents need this support. With unemployment in Tennessee predicted to rise above 'great depression' levels, I knew that parents would be even more hard-pressed to feed their children.

During a health crisis we also have to acknowledge that ensuring children have proper nutrition will help boost their immunity toward this ever circulating virus. As I shopped at local stores looking for food for my family, I was challenged to find certain fresh fruits or vegetables and other nutritious items. If families are quarantined at home, how will they go to the store, if stores are out of food, how will families eat? These were all questions I knew our program could provide some solution to. Our school nutrition program has always emphasized fresh fruits and vegetables, and I knew that this was no time to reduce that intake for children.

For the everyday heroes who are part of school nutrition programs across the country, this was a time for us to step up and feed a vulnerable population. This was not the time to take a break or step back in fear. It was time to decide how to overcome obstacles, problem-solve, and ensure children have the best opportunity to thrive amidst a world in chaos. 1 John 4:18 was a motivating refrain behind these decisions: 'There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear...whoever fears has not been perfected in love.' Instead of being anxious or acting out of fear, love drives me to do God's will to help kids in my neighborhood (while at the same time practicing the wisdom this pandemic necessitates).

As often as possible, food is sourced locally. When we say “local” we mean down the hill at our on campus farm, Hopewell Farms.

As I realized the ongoing effects of COVID-19, I searched out grants and programs that would help our school to operate as a free meal site for any child under 18. I immediately got our application in to be part of the USDA’s ‘seamless summer option,’ this would allow our school to operate as a free meal site for any child under 18, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadening our focus beyond the Academy made it so that we could offer assistance to anyone in need in our proximity.

Every day what would normally be used for lunch tables are still used for lunch tables, just all packed to go. This team goes above and beyond with home delivery for those in the neighborhood, and a streamlined drive through service for those who are not.

Comparatively, our school nutrition program is not generally a huge operation. We are among a handful of private schools in all of Tennessee that operate under the USDA's National School Nutrition Program, with the rest being large school districts with 1,000s of students. Despite being a small site, I knew with some hard work we could serve our neighbors and those in need. Our first week, we served almost 2,000 meals (breakfast and lunch). Going into our second week, we are set to serve over 2,000! We are delivering meals in the Hopewell neighborhood. We also have a drive-through system for pick up Monday-Friday until the end of the semester. We completely revamped all of our operations to fit this new need, which was no small undertaking! Despite substantial food shortages, we have still been able to provide a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables along with fresh organic produce from our on-campus garden. We are also supporting several employees who now do not have to file for unemployment and still supporting local food businesses who need our patronage.

This has been an important time for us to step up to the challenge. I'm so happy with my team and our readiness to meet COVID-19 with faith that we can do our part. School nutrition may not always get to the forefront of daily news. But it's making a splash in this part of Nashville. It's nice to be reminded of this essential work, which contributes to the health of our communities -- our kids! I work with a team of everyday heroes who deserve applause! Groups like mine, all over the country, are stepping out and ensuring children are still taken care of, despite incredible challenges. That is a reason to keep hoping.