DoDEA Americas’ Antilles School Meals Program received multiple awards during the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fall Healthy Meals Summit Oct. 21-23 in Las Vegas for its exceptional school meals practices. Antilles Schools, which includes Antilles elementary, middle, and high schools, led the nation—receiving six of eight possible awards, which spotlights innovative practices, student and community engagement activities, and strategies schools use to provide nutritious and delicious meals to its students.

Action for Healthy Kids and the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service announced in early October that 99 school districts received 127 Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Recognition Awards for making nutritional improvements to their school meals.

“On behalf of all the staff of the State Agency, Food and Nutrition Services, I extend our sincere congratulations to the Antilles Consolidated School System’s team for the outstanding recognitions and awards obtained in the Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards,” said Lourdes N. Garcia Santiago, Puerto Rico Department of Education Nutrition Department. “This achievement represents a significant milestone within the school community.”

The awards include:

Award: Lunch Trailblazer Award

Description: Antilles Consolidated School System reduced sodium in school meals through the incorporation of more scratch cooking using techniques such as roasting, slow cooking, braising, and sautéing to build flavors. Additionally, the district uses herbs like basil, oregano, cilantro, rosemary, coriander, and garlic to enhance flavors instead of salt.

Award: Innovation in the Cultural Diversity of School Meals

Description: Antilles Consolidated School System serves culturally relevant menu items including Mashed Cassava, Mashed Malaga, Ripe Plantains, and Stew with Pinto Beans.

Award: Small and/or Rural School Food Authority Lunch Trailblazer Award

Description: Antilles Consolidated School System reduced sodium in school meals by adding flavor through cooking techniques such as roasting, marinating, and braising. The district also uses herbs like basil, oregano, cilantro, rosemary, coriander, and garlic to enhance flavors instead of salt.

Award: Small and/or Rural School Food Authority Breakfast Trailblazer Award

Description: Antilles Consolidated School System reduced added sugars by serving only unflavored milk at breakfast and offering reduced sugar cereals.

Award: Breakfast Trailblazer Award

Description: Antilles Consolidated School System reduced added sugars by switching to reduced sugar cereals and yogurt and offering only unflavored milk. Added sugars make up less than 10% of the calories offered at breakfast.

Award: Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals

Description: Antilles Consolidated School System offers many scratch-made foods, including Cilantro Rice, Chicken Alfredo with Penne, and Stewed Rice with Beans.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our kitchen staff and the support of our entire school community, staff, and administrators,” said Jowe Hernandez, Antilles Schools Food Services Program Manager. “We know healthy meals are essential and directly linked to student achievement, and our entire team takes great pride in the support they provide military-connected students.”

Hernandez adds that students are the most important part of the process.

“We do not perceive the young people we serve as students,” said Hernandez. “The students and their families are our customers, and they deserve our very best.”

Following the awards announcement, Hernandez was asked to participate as a panelist in the Fall Healthy Meals Summit in Las Vegas, addressing nearly 1,000 school food authority participants representing dozens of school districts across the nation.

“This experience validates and certifies the work that we do for our students and customers,” said Hernandez. “DoDEA Americas School Meals Program for Antilles schools has shown to the nation what we have achieved as an institution, and we feel so proud for this accomplishment.”

As the school community celebrates this achievement, they remain committed to continuing their mission of providing healthy meals to advance student achievement.

DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 160 accredited schools in 8 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts, located on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world.