Arkansas's FRESH Network: Assisting Magazine School District with Understanding Contaminants in School Meals and Transitioning to Better Food Systems.

Project Abstract Magazine School District (Arkansas) FRESH Network: Assisting Magazine Schools with Understanding Contaminants in School Meals and Transitioning to Better Food Systems Across Arkansas and much of the country, school meals are often heavily reliant on ultra- processed foods—items high in sodium, additives, and preservatives that can negatively impact children’s long-term health and cognitive development. At the same time, Arkansas is a state rich in agricultural resources, presenting a powerful opportunity to reimagine school food systems using local, scratch-cooked, and nutritionally dense meals. This project, supported by the FDA Research Study of Contaminants in School Meals (U18), will pilot a transformative school meal model in participating districts across Arkansas. The project includes nutritional and contaminant testing of both vendor- supplied and scratch-cooked meals, robust student engagement through taste tests and surveys, and professional development for school nutrition teams. Funding will also support the purchase of critical equipment like combi ovens, the integration of farm-fresh ingredients, and the development of aligned curriculum for CTE and health-related classes. Led in partnership with Wellness in the School, Thaden School and Healthy Flavors Arkansas, the project will generate data-driven insights on student preferences, meal quality, and health outcomes. The initiative aims to empower schools to improve food safety, nutrition, and engagement while fostering sustainable, community-rooted food systems that can serve as a national model.