Blech Or Yum: Hillsborough Students Rate New School Lunch Items

TAMPA, FL — How many students would jump at the chance to shape their school'S lunch menu? Hillsborough County public schools students now have the opportunity to impact what’s for lunch for the more than 133,000 students who eat school lunches every day.

On Wednesday and Thursday, more than 100 students each day are taking part in the school district's annual "The School Lunch Experience" taste test. The event is at the Student Nutrition Services’ Silo Event Center, 9036 Brittany Way, Tampa.

Students from around the district will taste and rate possible new lunch menu offerings and choose their favorites, which may end up on next year's school menu line-up.

This is the 11th year the Hillsborough Schools’ Student Nutrition Services Department hosted the taste test. The students will sample 17 menu items including Ropa Vieja, Chicken Empanadas, Breakfast Frittata Bites and Mexican Street Corn. Students will rate each item on a scale of Love It, Like It or Dislike It based on the item’s appearance, smell and taste.

The purpose of the tasting is to help Student Nutrition Services provide healthy menus that are based on student preferences and get students excited about school lunch. Each student will leave with a full belly and a goodie bag for participating.