Mushroom Pilot Program

District Overview• Total enrollment: 1,203*

– Early Childhood Center, preschool-1st grade: 346

– Elementary School, grades 2-6: 381

– Middle School, grades 7-8: 145– High School, grades 9-12: 331

• Percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch: 51%

• Attendance rate: 94.5%• Graduation rate: 92.4%

* as of May 31, 2012

Menu• Chili with Beans

and Mushrooms• Turkey-Mushroom

Meatball Sub• Garden Pizza• Italian Meat-

Mushroom Meatloaf

Meatball Sub and Salad Bar

“Having mushrooms on the salad bar is as good as gold”

“We tried it as a test, and then took it away. We had students complaining, so we had to bring them back everyday.”

Pizzas

“The Mushroom Pizza gave Pepperoni a run for its money”“Many students insisted on the garden pizza, some saying they were vegetarians…when they weren’t”

Making the Panini

Portabella Panini

Making the Meatballs

Meatloaf

Poster Turkey Meatballs

MethodFILL OUT SURVEY FOR A $15 ITUNES CARD --- 1 PER LUNCH PERIOD

YOUR NAME YOUR LUNCH PERIOD

Did you like today’s meatloaf? Yes No

Would you eat it again? Yes No

Did you know there was mushrooms mixed in the

meatloaf?

Yes No

Do you like mushrooms? Yes No

What are your favorite ways to eat mushrooms? (circle all you like)

Today’s Meatloaf Pizza

Pasta Chili Sandwiches

Meatball Subs Burgers Salads

Results

• K - 6: –73% of the students who like mushrooms

liked the turkey/mushroom meatloaf–51% of the students who dislike

mushrooms liked the turkey/mushroom meatloaf–67% of the students liked the

turkey/mushroom meatloaf

Results

• 7 – 12: –80% of the students who like mushrooms

liked the turkey/mushroom meatloaf –47% of the students who dislike

mushrooms liked the turkey/mushroom meatloaf–62% of the students liked the

turkey/mushroom meatloaf

Metrics/Findings

• 2nd Grade– 8 like mushrooms

• 7 liked meatloaf• 1 disliked meatloaf

– 4 dislike mushrooms• 3 liked meatloaf• 1 disliked meatloaf

• 3rd Grade– 4 like mushrooms

• 4 liked meatloaf– 4 dislike mushrooms

• 2 liked meatloaf• 2 disliked meatloaf• *leftover hot dogs

were offered to this class

Metrics/Findings

• 4th Grade– 6 like mushrooms

• 2 liked meatloaf• 4 disliked meatloaf

– 10 dislike mushrooms• 5 liked meatloaf• 4 said ok on meatloaf• 2 disliked meatloaf

• 5th Grade– 6 like mushrooms

• 7 liked meatloaf• 4 disliked meatloaf

– 12 dislike mushrooms• 8 liked meatloaf• 4 disliked meatloaf

Metrics/Findings

• 6th Grade– 6 like mushrooms

• 2 liked meatloaf• 5 disliked meatloaf

– 7 dislike mushrooms• 1 liked meatloaf• 6 disliked meatloaf

– 2 Mushrooms OK• 2 dislike meatloaf

• Notes for Elementary:– Meatloaf was overdone– Meatloaf was not sauced– Meatloaf was not batch

cooked• All were done and held

before the start of lunch

Metrics/Findings

• Middle School (7 – 8)• 20 like mushrooms– 18 liked meatloaf– 2 disliked meatloaf

• 15 dislike mushrooms– 12 liked meatloaf– 3 disliked meatloaf

• High School (9 – 12)• 15 like mushrooms– 10 liked meatloaf– 5 disliked mushrooms

• 28 dislike mushrooms– 8 liked meatloaf– 20 disliked meatloaf

How they like to eat Mushrooms• 2nd – 6th Graders• Pizza (14)• In sauces, over meat (4)• Raw, with ranch dip (3)• Salads (3)• Sautéed (3)• Cooked by themselves (2)• Pasta, stroganoff (2)• Cooked in things (2)• Deep Fried (2)• Cooked in dumplings (1)• In my body (1)• Anyway (1)• Sautéed with rice (1)

• 7th – 12th Graders• Pizza (15)• Burgers (11)• Pasta (9)• Salads (6)• Sandwiches (3)• Chili (2)• All ways (3)• Raw (4)

Takeaways

• Kids are eating mushrooms • Pizza was the most popular choice in all grades• On burgers was second for middle/high school

and not on the list at all for elementary• Most of the middle school/high school students

knew there were mushrooms in the meatloaf and most of the elementary did not

• Liking mushrooms or disliking mushrooms did not impact the liking or disliking of the meatloaf