Scratch Cooking Takes Center Stage as Nutrition Services Prepares Healthier Meals for Students

During Winter Break, the Lynwood Unified Nutrition and Wellness Department held a professional development day focused on expanding scratch cooking practices and reinforcing kitchen best practices and safety guidelines as staff prepared for students’ return to school on January 6.

Scratch cooking refers to preparing meals using fresh ingredients rather than relying on fully prepackaged foods – supporting healthier meals, improving flavor and allowing greater flexibility to meet students’ nutritional needs.

As the department begins rolling out this approach, staff participated in hands-on training where staff prepared menu items such as chicken wings and pasta with meat sauce, practicing proper food preparation techniques while strengthening teamwork.

“I love what I do, I love cooking from scratch for the kids,” said Kitchen Supervisor Celestine Richardson, who has been with the District for almost 30 years. “When we come here, we do things from the heart. When I see the students eat the food we worked hard to cook from scratch, that’s the most amazing thing.”

By investing in professional learning, the Nutrition and Wellness Department continues to enhance meal quality and reinforce Lynwood Unified’s commitment to improving the overall meal experience for students.