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Chefs Create Healthier School Meals in 8 Kentucky Counties

Grayson County schools

Chefs are working with schools in eight Kentucky counties to increase the use of fresh food from local farmers. The goal is to create healthier and more appealing meals for students. 

The project is called the Chefs in Schools Collaborative.

Grayson County’s six schools have a chef working with food service staff during the month of March.

School district food service director Kristy Hodges says chef Chris Byrd has helped create lower sodium and less processed food with more natural seasonings.  

“In the past we had used a prepackaged mix for our taco seasoning and he’s helped some of the ladies in the schools come up with their own seasoning recipes,” says Hodges. “He’s doing the same thing with the chili recipe. We used to order spaghetti sauce.”

The students are confirming that the healthier recipes are proving the value of the visiting chef.

“He’s come up with a less-processed, lower sodium way to make those items, and we actually did a taste testing with spaghetti and meat balls. Students loved it. It went over really well,” says Hodges.

In addition to Grayson, the counties participating in the program are Boyle, Clark, Oldham, Harlan, Martin, Morgan and Pike.