El Paso ISD’s Food and Nutrition Services Brings Learning to Life with Kitchen Tours
El Paso ISD’s youngest learners are getting a firsthand taste of what it takes to prepare nutritious school meals, thanks to an engaging series of kitchen tours hosted by the district’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) department.
The interactive experience invited pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students to step behind the serving line and explore the heart of their campus kitchens. Students learned where their food comes from, how meals are prepared, and the teamwork involved in feeding thousands of students each day. Along the way, they peeked inside massive refrigerators and freezers, watched staff at work, and sampled healthy snacks designed to promote nutritious eating habits.
“These tours are about more than showing our kitchens—they’re about helping students understand the value of healthy eating and the teamwork it takes to keep them fueled for learning,” said Laura Eggemeyer, Assistant Director of Food Services. “We want our youngest learners to see that nutritious food helps them grow strong, stay focused, and succeed in school.”
El Paso ISD’s Food and Nutrition Services serves over 50,000 meals daily across the district, including breakfast, lunch, and supper. With a dedicated staff of more than 500 cafeteria employees and seven registered dietitians, the department creates menus that meet federal guidelines while reflecting student input and taste preferences.
The kitchen tours are part of El Paso ISD’s ongoing mission to blend nutrition education with hands-on learning. By showing students the effort and care behind every meal, the district aims to instill lifelong appreciation for healthy eating and wellness.
For more information and weekly menus, visit www.episd.org/food-nutrition-services