Sushi In School Cafeterias. Good Idea?

[TexasStooge]

Highland Park students eating sushi instead of burgers

By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News

UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas – That 15-year-old Tommy Schober knows his way around a pair of wooden chopsticks is clear as he deftly lifts a piece of sushi to his lips.

Across the lunchroom table, Ricky Andro, also 15, had already devoured his six pieces of the Asian delicacy and was on to the next course – a burrito packed with rice, beans and chicken.

These students haven't shunned cafeteria fare of pizza and PB&J in favor of take-out – sushi is on the menu at Highland Park High.

Every Tuesday, for $4, Highland Park students can enjoy six pieces of sushi – a dish more associated with fine dining than a high school food court.

No other area districts offer sushi, but Highland Park isn't alone nationwide. Scarsdale Public Schools in Scarsdale, N.Y., and several California schools also list sushi on their lunch menus.

The select cuisine – the most expensive item on Highland Park's menu – seems fitting in the affluent Park Cities.

Dr. Jo Ann Carson, a clinical nutrition professor at the UT Southwestern Medical Center, said sushi is more than chic – it's a healthy option for all ages. And she says it suits Highland Park High's demographics.

"What I think is unique is this is kind of catering to their audience," Dr. Carson said. "These teens are probably eating sushi now. ... I don't see that this would work in South Oak Cliff."

And although slivers of sashimi or high-dollar tuna or eel rolls aren't available on the school's menu, the seaweed-wrapped rolls pack more than cucumbers.

The California rolls come stuffed with cooked imitation crab, cucumber and avocado, while the veggie rolls include cucumber, carrot and soft avocado. A spoonful of tear-inducing wasabi comes in each package, and packets of soy sauce are available.

Joan Bayes, the school's food service director, has wanted to offer sushi for four or five years. She thought it would be a healthy menu option kids would like.

And she was right. The lunchroom often sells out of the food.

Though Ms. Bayes admits the price is high – it jumped from $3 earlier this month – she has no plans to take the dish off the menu.

"It gets in their proteins, their starches," Ms. Bayes said. "Supposedly, the seaweed wrap helps you lose weight."

That idea is appealing to Tommy, a freshman wrestler who competes in the 114-pound weight class, and classmate Thomas Randall. Thomas, another freshman, said he bought a package of the California rolls because he's trying to lose weight.

"I'm on the South Beach diet, and that's the closest thing they have," he said.

Ms. Bayes said the staff doesn't make the sushi in-house. It's purchased pre-rolled from a sushi shop inside a local Kroger grocery store.
"We cut it and assemble it into the packages," she said.

Sophomore Victoria Stringer, 16, said she likes that she can get sushi at school, but it doesn't quite match her standards.

"I think it's cool that they offer it," she said, "but I think they could make it a little better."
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[HurryKane]

Ooooo, two crab claws and an eyestalk up. I would have loved to have had that option back in the day.

[gtalum]

Healthy AND yummy! I wish they had sushi back at my high school.

[HurryKane]

So, you naysayers, why do you think it's a bad idea?

[kevin]

So, you naysayers, why do you think it's a bad idea?

My guess would be cultural prejudice. Can't think of any reason why this is a bad idea...

[GalvestonDuck]

Sushi rules!

[Extremeweatherguy]

that would be a great idea. It would bring culture into schools, and it would taste good too.

[tornadochaser1986]

i think its a good idea just that cafeteria food is horrible as is i dont have any faith that they will make it correctly let alone have it taste good

[Kim_in_MN]

I voted "no" when the poll first appeared based on whether I would have eaten it or not - back in the early 80's I don't think sushi would have gone over too well in northwestern Minnesota schools.

However, times have changed, kids palates have gotten more sophistocated, and it might not be a bad idea. (I still don't think it would go over too well in this area, however )

Kim

[DoctorHurricane2003]

They don't make it, they just cut the rolls tornado. The local kroger is making them.

[Dr. Jonah Rainwater]

I wish we had that up here in Frisco, lol. As a vegetarian myself, I'm tired of picking the chicken off of the chicken salad...we don't have vegetarian salads at my school.