Northridge High Students Launch New Lunch Wrap Across District

A new lunch item created by students at Northridge High School will be introduced across the Greeley-Evans School District 6 this spring. After extensive sampling and voting among students, the Grizzly Ranch’n Chicken Wrap emerged as the favorite, set to delight students in the district’s cafeterias.

The Grizzly Ranch’n Chicken Wrap features a combination of baked chicken thigh, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a homemade ranch dressing with reduced sodium content. This initiative was part of a class project in ProStart, an industry-recognized hospitality education program offered by District 6. The program aims to expose students to various career paths within the hospitality industry.

Junior Cole Barber, who contributed to the wrap’s creation, expressed his enthusiasm about the project. “Working as a group to help make a creation that a lot of people like … made me happy,” he said. Barber has aspirations to become a private chef and found the collaborative effort inspiring.

Another student involved in the project, Mary Yong, shared her excitement about the engagement of her classmates. “I might go into culinary if the medical field isn’t for me,” Yong noted, reflecting the diverse interests of the students involved.

The students received guidance from the district’s menu specialist on the criteria for reimbursable meals. They learned about the necessary portions of fruit, vegetables, grains, and proteins that must be included in school lunches to meet health standards. These requirements are essential for compliance with regulations that ensure students receive nutritious meals.

Each student group developed a recipe prototype, which was then subjected to a voting process within their classes. The top two dishes, including the Grizzly Ranch’n Chicken Wrap and carne asada nachos, advanced to review by the Student Health Advisory Council. After final adjustments, the dishes were mass-produced for a tasting event, where Northridge students voted for their preferred option.

Ultimately, the Grizzly Ranch’n Chicken Wrap took the lead and will be featured on the lunch menu at least once across the district. “I told my students with tears in my eyes that I couldn’t have been prouder,” said Joanna Fedor, a family and consumer science teacher at Northridge. “The coolest part was I really was able to just step back and they took charge.”

This initiative not only provides students with a flavorful new lunch option but also empowers them through hands-on experience in culinary arts, fostering teamwork and creativity. As the wrap rolls out, it promises to be a tasty highlight for students in the Greeley-Evans School District 6.