ANGOLA, NY – Students at Lake Shore Central School District's W.G. Houston Middle School helped choose a new school lunch item on Wednesday, September 23. During lunch, they tried samples of apple pie parfait at a tasting table in the cafeteria and voted on what they thought. The parfait was a hit, and it is being added to the lunch menu.

Voting was quick and anonymous. Students could fill out a short feedback form, or drop a popsicle stick into one of three jars: a smile, a neutral face, or a frown. The jars made it easy for any student to weigh in within a few seconds, right from the lunch line.

The tasting table was part of a research study called Taste & Discover. It was led by Hanna Leaskey, a Buffalo State University master's student in nutrition and dietetics, working with Personal Touch Food Service. Her study looks at how the way food is made and served changes how students feel about school lunch.

Lake Shore thanks Hanna Leaskey, Personal Touch Food Service, and the Houston Middle School staff who helped make the tasting happen. To every student who voted: your feedback made it onto the menu.

Photo Gallery

(Click any image to view full size)