SAISD SPOTLIGHT: SAISD students become food reviewers at Culinary Tasting Expo
National School Lunch Week 2025 will be celebrated from October 13–17. The theme for this year is "Taste the World: Your School Lunch Passport," which encourages the celebration of diverse global cuisines while highlighting the importance of nutritious meals in school lunches.
During National School Lunch Week, the SAISD Child Nutrition department provides students the chance to play a critical role in adding new school cafeteria options to enjoy. The district’s Child Nutrition Culinary Expo on October 16 (see below) brings 40 students from SAISD high schools and some middle schools to taste test a variety of food items from vendors.
The Culinary Expo is a very busy environment. There are door prizes and activities along with chomping on good food. The students eagerly sample among the many offerings available, taking their role as food critics seriously to provide quality feedback.
*Child Nutrition Executive Director Kimber Dillon will be available for interviews at the Culinary Expo, along with students who will be taste-testing and reviewing the food options.
Calendar items
Oct. 13 (Mon) – SAISD offices and most campuses closed October 13.
SAISD offices and most campuses will be closed on Monday, October 13. District offices and campuses will resume normal hours of operation on Tuesday, October 14.
Oct. 14 (Tues) – SAISD Board Meeting
5:30 p.m., SAISD Board Room, 514 W. Quincy St., 78212 or online
Link: https://www.saisd.net/page/dis-board-videos
The SAISD Board of Trustees will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at the central administrative office.
Oct 15 (Wed) – Burbank High School Pumpkin Patch
5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Burbank High School Farm, 1000 Edwards, 78204
Mark your calendars now! The Burbank High School Agricultural Science department is welcoming the community to an event that has become a beloved annual south side tradition. The Burbank Farm Pumpkin Patch has something for everyone in the family, including hayrides, fun games to play, snacks and of course plenty of pumpkins to choose from for sale. Kids can also play in a corn pit and compete in a costume contest! Only $2 to enter the Pumpkin Patch.
Oct 16 (Thurs) – SAISD Child Nutrition Culinary Tasting Expo
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Alamo Convocation Center, 110 Tuleta Drive, 78212
The 2025 Child Nutrition Culinary Expo offers students a firsthand opportunity to sample and shape the direction school lunches will go. This event is held during National School Lunch Week, and SAISD students from several campuses will be taste-testing professional food products from school food vendors. The students provide valuable feedback which will guide the district’s decision making as it considers products to purchase for use in future cafeteria menus.