Why we need fresh food over processed food in schools

Cheap, convenient, and easy to prepare, processed foods have been a staple in American cafeterias for years. They’re familiar favorites for breakfast and lunch. However, while they might be delicious, they often lack the nutrients growing kids need. Fresh, scratch-cooked food meals deliver far more nutritional value.

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In this blog, we'll explore why fresh, homestyle food is a better choice for schools than processed options. Keep reading to learn more!

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What are processed foods and fresh foods?

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Processed foods are those that have been altered from their natural state to extend shelf life, often through canning, freezing, drying, or packaging. These processes can degrade the nutritional quality of the ingredients, reducing the levels of essential nutrients, flavor, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. In contrast, fresh foods made with whole ingredients retain most of their nutritional content, providing more energy, greater fullness, and the nutrients needed for focus and growth.

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Fresh food vs. processed foods: Key differences

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Let’s take a closer look at these two and explore why one is better than the other in terms of a few factors.

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Preservatives and Additives

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Fresh foods are made from ingredients with little to no preservatives, flavorings, or additives at all. Only the cooking method affects their nutritional content. Processed foods, on the other hand, rely heavily on these three elements to prolong shelf life.

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Flavor profile

Highly processed foods have gone through different preservation methods. They’re pre-seasoned and often heavily modified, leaving little room to customize the flavor. Fresh ingredients, however, offer natural, unaltered flavors. You have full control over the dish’s overall taste, especially when using locally harvested produce.

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Nutritional value

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Ultra-processed foods are high in saturated fats, oils, sugar, and salt. Consuming these regularly can hinder growth and increase the risk of obesity and other health issues in students.

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Fresh foods provide the opposite—they’re rich in key nutrients, fiber, healthy oils, vitamins, and minerals that support daily activity. Fruits and vegetables are especially great sources of fiber, which lowers the risks of cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

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Why children need fresh foods

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Growing children require nutritious meals to develop properly. To meet this need, schools need to provide fresh, scratch-cooked meals filled with quality ingredients. Otherwise, students’ growth may be affected, causing them to develop negative eating habits and putting them at risk of diseases.

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Why fresh food is better for schools

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Students are in school 10 months a year—300 days out of 365. What they eat for their school breakfast and lunch every day matters, contributing to their overall health and lifelong wellness habits.

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More than that, their meals impact their behavior and performance in school. Serve students nutritious food, and you can expect better participation, enthusiasm, drive, and energy from them—all of which contribute to a well-rounded student body and a positive learning environment.

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Improved learning

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Healthy meals cooked with fresh ingredients boost students’ concentration, focus, and cognitive function. These allow them to perform better academically and engage more actively with their teachers and peers.

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Develop healthy habits

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Establishing healthy eating habits starts at a young age. By serving balanced, delicious meals, schools can encourage kids to develop a taste for nutritious foods they’ll grow to like and eat into adulthood.

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Decreased risks of diseases

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Typical heat-and-serve school meals are processed, frozen, and laden with sugar, salt, and saturated fats. Consuming these in unhealthy amounts can cause them to be sickly, leading to increased risks of heart disease, cholesterol, and obesity. Fresh, scratch-cooked foods contain fewer of these harmful ingredients, promoting better health.

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Use Ordo at your school to provide fresh, healthy meals for your students

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Serving students fresh meals isn’t enough when they can easily throw away what they don’t like. To encourage healthy eating habits in students, schools need to serve nutritious, delicious, and appealing food. We can make that happen at Ordo.

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Ordo has become the fastest-growing school food program in America, providing fresh meals made from scratch every day in our kitchens. Our chefs focus on cooking homestyle food that’s both nutritious and what students love. Students and parents can place their orders through their ordering app and choose from seasonal menus with 4 to 6 different options daily like Tex Mex Crunch Salad with Creamy Lime Dressing or Chicken Bacon Wrap with Pretzels, Carrots & Ranch. Our online platform automates compliance paperwork for reimbursable meals, tracks important metrics like daily participation rate, and handles all payment and order processing. Ordo offers both vended meal service where we deliver the food every day and onsite food service management with our chefs preparing food on campus. We have served all types of schools, from preschools and daycare centers to private and public schools.

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If you’re interested in providing fresh, healthy food for your school, you can reach out to the school partnerships team here.