Child Nutrition - WVSD Yakima

👩‍🍳🧑‍🍳 Junior Chef Competition is Coming Up! 🧑‍🍳👩‍🍳

Do you have a student who loves to cook, create, and try new recipes? Our Junior Chef Competition is right around the corner, and it’s shaping up to be an unforgettable event! 🍽️✨

🎤 We’re excited to have local celebrity chef Shawn Niles — better known as “The Fat Pastor” — as our host and MC for the evening!

🌟 Plus, we’ll be joined by an incredible panel of judges including Asher Niles (MasterChef Junior Season 9 Semifinalist)!

🏆 Winners will have the amazing opportunity to attend the World Food Championships Qualifier happening that same weekend on May 9th (at Hometown Ace Hardware) and get a behind the scenes experience with the celebrity judges. For more info: https://www.thefatpastor.com/hometown-showdown

📅 Applications are due by March 27th — don’t miss out!

📝 Register here: https://forms.gle/yNr6L5uY9NkUPMTN8

Encourage your student to apply and show off their creativity, skills, and passion for food. We can’t wait to see what our young chefs create!

Take a look to see what’s been happening in Child Nutrition this month, from new menu items and celebrations to the great work happening in our kitchens every day. We’re also sharing a few things to look forward to as we head into spring!

Thank you for your continued support—we love serving our students and community! 💚🍎

Junior Chef Competition Registration Link: https://forms.gle/ed6j4tz5QhqpL8N87

🌟 Wellness Challenge – Week 4: Move Your Body! 🌟

We’ve made it to Week 4 of our Wellness Challenge, and this week’s focus is simple but powerful: Move Your Body! 🚶‍♀️🏃‍♂️🧘‍♀️

Whether it’s a brisk walk, a bike ride, stretching, dancing in your kitchen, or trying a new workout, every bit of movement counts. The goal this week is to get your body moving in ways that feel good and keep you energized.

💡 Challenge Yourself:

Take a daily walk

Try a new fitness class or activity

Stretch or do yoga

Invite a friend or family member to join you

Remember, wellness isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress and building healthy habits one step at a time. Let’s finish the challenge strong! 💪

🙏 A special thank you to our Week 4 sponsors:
Ray’s Meat and Wray’s Market Fresh IGA for supporting our community’s wellness journey!

Share how you’re moving this week and inspire others!

Week 3 of our Wellness Challenge is here! 🌿✨

This week’s theme: Stress-Less & Mindfulness.

Take a moment to slow down, breathe deeply, and check in with yourself. Whether it’s a short meditation, a mindful walk, journaling, or simply putting your phone down for a few minutes—small moments of mindfulness can make a big impact on your well-being. 🧘‍♀️🌞

Challenge yourself this week:
• Practice 5 minutes of mindful breathing each day
• Take one tech-free break daily
• Spend a few minutes reflecting on what you’re grateful for

A big thank you to our Week 3 sponsor, Spokane Produce, for supporting our community wellness journey! 🍎🥕 Their commitment to fresh, healthy food helps make living well a little easier for everyone.

Let’s keep the momentum going! Comment below with how you’re practicing mindfulness this week. 👇

We’re halfway through National School Breakfast Week and the quest just got even more delicious! 🏰⚔️

In celebration of the “The Quest for School Breakfast” theme, we’re excited to introduce a brand new menu item today:

👑 Knight’s Breakfast Casserole 👑
(Our Breakfast Frittata with English Muffin!)

This hearty breakfast features savory sausage, fluffy eggs, diced potatoes, melty cheese, and just the right blend of spices — all baked to perfection and served with a half English muffin on the side.

It’s a breakfast worthy of royalty and sure to power our students through their day of learning and adventure!

Welcome to Week Two of our Wellness Challenge — where we focus on giving our bodies the fuel they deserve.

This week is all about:
🥗 Nourishing meals that energize
🍎 Whole foods that power your day
⚡ Smart choices that support your goals

When you fuel your body right, you don’t just look better — you feel unstoppable. Clearer mind. Better workouts. More energy. Stronger YOU.

Some of our participant's wins from last week:
⭐Increasing my water intake and snacking less
⭐Walking to school and back when when it was cold
⭐I drank 16oz of water first thing every morning this week.

We’re kicking off Week One of our Wellness Challenge, and it all starts with the FOUNDATIONS of wellness 💪🌿

This week is all about building strong, sustainable habits that support your mind and body — because lasting wellness begins with the basics. Whether you’re focusing on movement, hydration, sleep, or mindful moments, every small step counts!

Soft, delicious donuts topped with our rich, homemade maple frosting — smooth, sweet, and full of cozy breakfast flavor. Perfect for busy mornings, classroom treats, or a special surprise before the bell rings. 📚✨

Because every great school day deserves a sweet start. 🤎

⏰ TODAY IS THE DAY! ⏰

It’s the LAST DAY to register for the West Valley Wellness Committee Wellness Challenge 🎉

Ready to challenge yourself in a fun, supportive way? This is your chance to:
🌟 Build healthy habits
🤝 Stay accountable
💪 Boost motivation
🎁 Earn a shot at winning prizes

Small actions. Big impact. Stronger habits—together.

🚨 Registration closes TODAY
👉 Sign up now and join the challenge! https://forms.gle/qykgAqTnuzbsuvP26

🥤🍓 New Breakfast Item Alert at Our Secondary Schools! 🍌🥤
We’re blending things up with a delicious new breakfast option — Strawberry Banana Smoothies!

This refreshing combo is a quick, tasty way for students to start their day with energy and focus.

Encourage your students to give it a try next time they stop by for breakfast — we think it’s going to be a new favorite! 😋

Our February Newsletter has arrived! 📬
Take a few minutes to see what’s happening this month in school nutrition!

Wellness Challenge Registration Link: https://forms.gle/1oAVMjTeqvKuKhmx5

Junior Chef Competition Registration Link:
https://forms.gle/SNijUUZ2sNka3Xg68

Today’s lunch special 😋
Homemade rolls + scratch-made turkey gravy + mashed potatoes = perfection.