On Friday, July 12, the Mildred Avenue K-8 school in Mattapan hosted a launch event for the Boston Public Schools’ annual Summer EATS program, which helps to dismantle food insecurity across the city.
The program offers free meals for all of Boston’s youth, 18 and under, at over 100 sites. Sites are available seven days a week; some offer both breakfast and lunch, while others offer only lunch. Breakfast consists of milk, fruit/vegetables, and grains/bread. Snacks, lunch and dinner consist of milk, fruit/vegetable, grains/bread, and meat/meat alternate. Meals are free and no ID or registration is required to receive meals.
“I am excited about kicking off the summer meals program,” said Anneliese Tanner, the executive director of food and nutrition services for BPS. Having access to healthy food is paramount, she said.
In addition to working on the Summer EATS program, the BPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services has completely revamped school lunch menus to make them more healthy, nutritious, locally sourced and better-tasting. The words “school lunch” are often associated with basics like pizza, chicken nuggets and fries, but the city of Boston wants to change that.
BPS held its launch event for the annual Summer EATS program at the Mildred Ave. K-8 school in Mattapan last week. PHOTO: Max Baker/BPS
In an effort to promote education around healthy food, the Office of Food and Nutrition Services has put an emphasis on plant-based food options. For example, veggie burgers were served at the launch event for everyone to sample along with milk and a treat, ice cream sandwiches.
Culture is another important aspect of the Summer EATS program.
“There is a big focus on culturally appropriate food. We have been doing a lot of focus groups with the kids to understand what they are eating at home,” Tanner said, noting the cultural and linguistic diversity among BPS students.
Mellissa Honeywood, deputy director of the Mayor’s Office of Food Justice, continued to emphasize the importance of culture when she touched on the inclusivity of culturally inspired meals. Honeywood also noted that an aspect of the Summer EATS Program that is particularly special is the collaboration among organizations. The Mayor’s Office of Food Access leads the program in partnership with BPS, the Greater Boston YMCA and the local nonprofit Project Bread.
“I am very hopeful for what is to come,” Honeywood said. “We’re doing what we can to support a more just and equitable food system. We have listening sessions with students so that they have agency over what they’re eating.”
Furthermore, the program’s partnership with farmers’ markets and vendors is unique and strengthens its ability to offer all local food items. Through the Summer EATS Program, children and families can engage with vendors who can offer information about local food systems and agriculture.
Although Summer EATS and the revamp of school lunches have been successful, there have been challenges along the way. For example, supply issues make it harder to adopt recipes on the fly. Due to preexisting systems, supply issues continue to be a struggle; therefore, Honeywood and her team are exploring what they can do internally.
“It would be great if Boston Public Schools’ Department of Food and Nutrition Services had their own kitchen,” she said.
Food insecurity among youth is often heightened over the summer, when school meals are unavailable. Boston Summer EATS aims to lift this burden and change the lives of children throughout Boston. The program uses an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure that no kid should be left hungry. By integrating nutritional standards with cultural sensitivity and educational enrichment, the program not only fills stomachs but also nurtures minds.
Mayor Michelle Wu said, “Both our Boston EATS program and the Farmers Market Coupon Program support families to access nutritious, healthy and locally produced foods right in their communities, with their neighbors. The city is working to build vibrant food access points in every neighborhood to ensure no family is left without a meal to eat.”
