Westerville City Schools Food Services Department launched its first taste test of potential menu items for elementary students at Alcott Elementary on Thursday.
Students sampled and offered their feedback on chicken and vegetable potstickers, turkey sausage pancake bites, and chocolate SunButter on graham crackers.
Depending on product availability, the department will either expand the taste test to all elementary schools or a select few starting next month.
The district’s Food Services leaders are currently working on the menus for the 2022-23 school year and the three potential menu items expand lunch offerings.
Food Services Manager Ginger Parsons said the chocolate SunButter, which is made from sunflower seeds, offers an alternative to peanut butter and gives students a non-meat option. The chocolate SunButter would be part of a bento box that includes a cheese stick, graham crackers and apple slices.
The turkey sausage pancake bites provide another breakfast for lunch option. Parsons said the department has struggled to keep breakfast items — mini pancakes, mini French toast, mini waffles — in stock because of supply chain issues. The turkey sausage pancake bites are locally made.
The chicken and vegetarian potstickers add another ethnic option to the menu. Parsons said the department introduced orange chicken this year, which has been a popular option among students.