Setting a Higher Standard for School Nutrition
We believe every child deserves access to fresh, nutritious, and high-quality meals. It’s not just about feeding students—it’s about fueling them to learn, grow, and thrive. That’s why our school lunch program, PataSchool, empowers schools to prioritize scratch cooking, fresh ingredients, and menus tailored to reflect the communities we serve.
We design our menus to align with the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which ensures that school meals meet rigorous nutrition standards. By combining these guidelines with our team’s expertise in hospitality and nutrition, we’re creating meals that are not only good for students but also genuinely enjoyable to eat.
What Is the National School Lunch Program?
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally funded initiative that helps public and nonprofit private schools provide free or low-cost meals to students. Its purpose is simple but critical: to ensure that every child has access to balanced, nutritious meals during the school day.
Under the NSLP, meals must meet specific dietary requirements, including limits on calories, fat, and sodium, while offering a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein sources. This program plays an essential role in addressing food insecurity and promoting student health and well-being nationwide.
How We Leverage the NSLP and Our Expertise
At PataSchool, we approach school lunches with the same high standards that guide the hospitality industry. Many members of our team bring years of experience in large-scale food production, where feeding hundreds of people without sacrificing quality is a daily goal. This expertise translates seamlessly into our PataSchool model.
By preparing meals from scratch, we can ensure better control over the nutritional content and quality of every dish. This also allows us to incorporate more fresh ingredients and tailor menus to include foods that resonate with students and their families.
But it’s not just about the food—it’s about the people behind it. Our program trains PataSchool cooks in scratch cooking techniques, menu planning, and effective ingredient sourcing. By empowering our team, we create a culture of culinary excellence and a deep awareness of how proper nutrition impacts students’ lives.
Why Nutrition Matters
Proper nutrition isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. When students have access to fresh, nourishing meals, they are better equipped to focus, learn, and achieve their full potential. Through PataSchool, we are working to ensure that every meal served in our cafeterias fuels both body and mind.
By aligning with the NSLP’s high standards, applying our culinary expertise, and committing to scratch-made cooking, we’re not just serving meals—we’re supporting futures. Together, we’re ensuring that the students in our partner schools have the nutrition they need to succeed.
Learn more about PataSchool here.