LOMPOC - Lompoc Food Service Workers are really cooking at Culinary Boot Camp!
It's tough training! They are the newest soldiers in the food fight for school food reform.
Culinary Boot Camp is a five day lesson in cooking from scratch. Most food service workers are only trained to use box cutters on heat and serve food that's fully loaded with salt, sugar and fat.
Now, new training in Lompoc thanks to the s'Cool Food Initiative, a program of the Orfalea Foundations.
They also granted big wishes here for major kitchen remodels, new ovens, a food chiller and Chef support.
It's help that is greatly needed in Lompoc. Nationwide, 28 percent of children are overweight or obese. In Lompoc, the number is 35 percent.
The s'Cool Food Initiative is dedicated to 10 years of education and training to empower schools and get them cooking from scratch again.
"If these pilots are successful we will move toward upgrading our Central Kitchen so we can serve cooked from scratch foods at all of our schools. I would be overwhelmed if I did not have the support the Orfalea Foundation gave. I am grateful!" Kathy Bertelsen, The Head of Food Service in Lompoc.
Tater Tots are getting kicked out of many Lompoc schools replaced with real roasted potatoes!
ROASTED RED POTATO RECIPE
Cut red potatoes in wedges
Toss with kosher salt, freshly ground pepper and olive oil and bake on a sheet pan at 450 degrees for about 25 minutes.
Turn them once.
Serve with oven roasted chicken.
Season chicken with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper and roast at 350 in the oven.
Freshly ground pepper giveS the recipe a boost.
Lompoc Food Service Workers now use fresh peppercorns and grind them in a spice grinder.
