The Whitefish School District food services department received a Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award for improving the nutritional quality of the district’s school meals. 

"Healthy school meals are an essential part of the school environment and a proven tool for improving a child’s health, growth, development and educational outcomes," said Dave Means, superintendent of Whitefish School District. "We are happy to celebrate this deserved award from our dedicated food service team." 

Awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids, Whitefish School District received the Lunch Trailblazer Award for its work in reducing sodium and meeting new dietary guidelines.  

As an award recipient, the district also receives travel stipends to attend a national Healthy Meals Summit. 

“One of America’s best opportunities to improve child health is through supporting schools in providing tasty and nutritious meals,” said Cindy Long, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administrator. “This Recognition Award highlights the remarkable achievements Whitefish School District has made in offering healthy meals that students enjoy, and we look forward to them sharing their best practices to help other schools follow in their footsteps.” 

Long added that USDA school meal programs reach around 30 million children from all communities and backgrounds across the country each school day.