(BORDENTOWN) – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture Monday marked National School Lunch Week with a visit to Bordentown High School to applaud the Bordentown Regional School District’s efforts to offer students meals that are nutritious and appealing as well as provide New Jersey produce.

New Jersey Department of Agriculture and USDA Mid-Atlantic Regional staff joined state, local, and school officials to highlight the school’s lunch program.

Specialty salads as well as a vegetable toppings bar are available along with a monthly rotating sauce bar for students to enhance the flavor of the options they select.

“It’s important that school districts continue to offer healthy choices for students,” NJDA Secretary Douglas Fisher said. “Bordentown has done an excellent job of providing a variety of options to its students while placing and emphasis on serving fresh fruits and vegetables.”

This year the Bordentown district started the Taste4 program that was developed with student input. It offers selections that change weekly. The offerings include fresh baked pizzas and fresh baked rolls for the deli bar along with to-go options.

“We encourage our students to make healthy choices when they make their lunch selections,” Bordentown School District Superintendent Dr. Edward Forsthoffer said.  “It’s important for them to understand that eating foods with high nutritional value can enhance their classroom performance.”

New Jersey schools have implemented the 2010 Federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which required more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk, fat-free flavored milk, and limited saturated fat and portion size.  It set requirements for school breakfast and snacks as well. Each day, an average of more than 650,000 students eat school lunch in New Jersey.

National School Lunch Week was created by the School Nutrition Association to encourage participation in the National School Lunch Program and recognize the school districts providing healthy meals every day.  The New Jersey Department of Agriculture administers the program in the Garden State.

To learn more about the state’s school lunch program, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/fn/childadult/school.html.