Home / Education / Beyond the TV Set: Huntington's Real School Lunch Win
Beyond the TV Set: Huntington's Real School Lunch Win
21 Mar
Summary
- School lunch director enhanced program post-TV failure.
- Local produce and expanded options became staples.
- Additional funding was secured through grants.
Huntington, West Virginia, once highlighted as the unhealthiest city in the U.S., became a surprising model for successful school lunches. In 2010, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver attempted to overhaul the district's food program for his TV show "Food Revolution," but his efforts were largely rejected by students and resulted in higher fat content than USDA targets. Participation dropped significantly following his intervention.
However, the school's food service director, Rhonda McCoy, continued to improve the program independently. She focused on incorporating locally sourced produce and increasing the variety of meal options, including no- and low-cost meals. McCoy also worked diligently to secure additional funding through grants.
McCoy's dedication extended beyond Huntington; in 2011, her team began training eight other school districts in West Virginia on preparing fresh, scratch-made food. These districts successfully implemented new menus that fall. Though McCoy is no longer with the district, her legacy of homemade meals using local ingredients endures.
