2008: The Year of Cafeteria Creativity.

Finding Ways to Feed More Kids with Healthier Choices

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- School foodservice directors nationwide are on the hunt for ways to feed more kids; faster, healthier and to increase revenue as well.

Enter the Star Food machine; a solution that today is being recognized as a life saver for school food programs.

According to Michigan State University Professor Michael Kasavana, this could be the solution to not only help foodservice directors with servicing the student populations, but also as a tool for educating about nutrition.

"This is the topic I get the most questions about," said Dr. Kasavana. "How can I use vending to expand our foodservice?"

Kasavana explains that several issues are colliding; from public awareness about obesity to shortened lunch times. "Vending machines can be of significant service, and by using a biometric or PIN pad authentication the machine can track who purchased what and when, making the whole process seamless and cost effective."

"Technology not only allows a vending machine to connect to most POS systems but also allows Star Food to bundle the meal components so as to be compliant with established USDA qualifications for reimbursable meals. It can also alert foodservice professionals to power outages or time for refills.

"When you consider that a vending machine also provides for distribution of breakfast items, healthy snacks and other foodservice options, these may well represent a partial solution to fiscal challenges schools are constantly facing," said Kasavana.

"On a national average only about 38 percent of the population of high school students can be served within the short time allotted for lunch, so schools are missing many of their students," explains Joe Gilbert, vice president and general manager of Star Food. "Students can typically wait in line for up to 20 minutes to be served lunch," according to Gilbert. "Star Food reimbursable meal machine is a solution to the problem."

The Star Food program not only allows students healthier, time-efficient choices for breakfast, lunch and after school meals; it provides schools an innovative reimbursable meal revenue generating solution.

For A Free Guide to Reimbursable Meals

Today's school foodservice programs must balance nutrition standards, reporting requirements, food choices, cultural diversity, food safety and much more as they work hard to deliver healthy meal options to their students.

Visit www.reimbursablemeals.com/contactus.htm and enter "FREE GUIDE" in the registration form to receive more information about making the most of reimbursable meal programs offered at public schools.

For more information about how Star Food can assist with school requirements to feed more students, contact Star Food at 877-857-FOOD or visit the Web site at www.reimbursablemeals.com.