In its continuing pursuit to provide delicious, nutritious meals to students, McAllen ISD has been accepted into a national certification program to bolster the district’s commitment to serving high-quality meals.
The McAllen ISD Child Nutrition team has begun working closely with the Eat Real organization as it participates in Eat Real’s certification program.
“We are excited as we embrace this opportunity to take our meal quality to another level for our students,” McAllen ISD Child Nutrition Services Director Sonia Esquivel said. “Over the next few weeks, the team will be providing Eat Real with information regarding menus, produce specifications, recipes, food production records, and other program documentation.”
This fall, McAllen ISD made a commitment to introducing more scratch-cooking meals into its menu in an effort to move away from processed foods. The goal is to increase scratch cooking by 71 percent over the next three years. Other components of the plan include teaching healthy eating habits to students.
McAllen ISD staff showcased its scratch-cooking plan to colleagues from other school districts in the Rio Grande Valley at a conference hosted by Region One Education Service Center on October 1.
“McAllen ISD pursued the Eat Real Certification because it aligns with our vision of serving students wholesome, nutritious meals made with real ingredients,” Esquivel said. “As we continue expanding scratch cooking, introducing cleaner-label products, and reducing reliance on highly processed foods, the certification provides a framework that supports our commitment to healthier school meals. We believe students deserve access to fresh, quality food that promotes their health, well-being, and academic success, and the Eat Real Certification helps recognize and strengthen those efforts.”
Eat Real is a non-profit organization focused on improving children’s health by transforming school-meal programs into nutrient-dense food sources. Founded by doctors, Eat Real works with school districts to replace ultra-processed foods with fresh, local, and sustainable options. Eat Real serves more than one million students across more than 20 states and has certified nearly 1,900 schools, according to its website.
The Eat Real certification framework helps schools meet higher standards for nutrition and reduces food waste.
McAllen ISD provides breakfast and lunch to approximately 19,000 students daily. Some students also receive dinner. In all, it comes to about 31,000 meals each day, or, 5.5 million meals per school year.
About McAllen ISD
McAllen ISD is a 2026 winner of the state’s Postsecondary Readiness Distinction. The district is home to 31 campuses and approximately 19,000 students. To learn more about McAllen ISD’s schools and programs, contact Student Outreach at 956-687-MISD (6473).