Mission CISD rolled out food trucks at campuses this month that school district officials hope will convince students to eat al fresco.
The district has set up seven food trucks at junior high and high schools in the district, Child Nutrition Program Director Maria Woodrum said in a video released by the district.
“The whole objective is to get the children to come outside and eat,” she said. “There will be picnic tables placed at every site.”
Although Woodrum said some districts farther north have food trucks, they’re a novelty on Rio Grande Valley campuses. Mission CISD has even fielded calls from nearby schools asking how they put the program together.
“So we’re kind of the first,” Woodrum said.
That novelty has caused some confusion among students and parents, who assume the food trucks charge for meals. This, Woodrum said, is not the case.
“And then they’re surprised when they find out that it’s no charge, that it’s still part of our free meals for all our district children,” she said.
According to Woodrum, menus at the food trucks consist mostly of pizza, hamburgers, chili cheese dogs and street tacos — all favorites with students.
“What are the things they like the most? What are the kids always asking for,” she said. “And so those are the favorites, so we decided let’s put those on and then later lets see what else they ask for. And then whatever their demand is, we will try to meet it.”
The trucks’ menu is proving to be a hit, with at least some students.
“I would recommend my friends to come to the food truck because it has more than just whatever they’re serving in the cafeteria, and you get to sit outside and feel the fresh air and just have fun out here with your friends,” Alton Memorial Junior High sixth grader Kaydence Espinoza said in the video.
