What began as a pilot program to improve school food in three elementary schools is now standard fare in all elementary schools across Howard County.

Let’s Rethink Lunch, conducted in partnership with the Howard County Public School System, doubled the fruit and vegetable offerings at Bollman Bridge, Laurel Woods, and Talbott Springs elementary schools and gave students fresh options from strawberries, orange slices and celery sticks to broccoli, lettuce and tomatoes. New lunch entrees also included new healthy options that meet federal standards and appeal to students’ tastebuds. The number of kids eating school lunch increased significantly in the program’s first year. As a result, the Howard County Public School System expanded the program to all elementary schools in 2017-18 school year, now serving over 26,000 students.