Sodexo on Tuesday reported that the California rolls it prepared and served to 400 students at six elementary schools in New Jersey’s Hillsborough Township were a big hit.
“High school students have pegged sushi as a favorite for years, so we thought it was time to bring it to our elementary school students,” said Katherine Major, general manager for Sodexo’s operations at Hillsborough Township Public Schools. “The response to the California rolls was overwhelming. Not only did the students love it, but I heard from both parents and district administrators who were excited and surprised by our sushi offering.”
Major and her culinary team prepared the California rolls in the school cafeteria using surimi seafood, avocado, seedless cucumbers, seasoned sushi rice and nori. Each student received six rolls, along with soy sauce and wasabi, milk, fruits and vegetables, a breadbasket and a fortune cookie. The meal meets or exceeds all U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritional guidelines.
Following the successful experiment, Sodexo is putting spicy shrimp rolls on the schools’ menus in November.
“The great thing about sushi is that it allows students to enjoy a meal that is truly healthy for them in a package that is both fun and delicious,” added Major. “One of our biggest challenges is finding creative ways to help students get the nutrition they need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle and sushi does just that.”
Sodexo is a worldwide foodservice provider, serving more than 10 million customers daily in corporations, government buildings, health care facilities, retirement centers, schools and colleges.
