Chart-Topping Celebration: Parents, Kids Enjoy Exchange Lunches in DoD Schools

Patch Barracks schoolkids had special visitors during National Schools Lunch Week.

Nearly 465 moms and dads joined their kids Oct. 16 in 12 Department of Defense Education Activity schools across Europe for “Bring Your Parents to Lunch Day” to feast on Pitch-Perfect Pepperoni Pizza, Rockin’ Chicken Alfredo with Garlic Baguette, Hip-Hop Fresh Apple Slices and Melody Milk.

Exchange school meal program associates served more than 3,000 pizza slices during the events to commemorate National School Lunch Week in the United States.

“This is an excellent level of participation,” said Jason Rosenberg, senior vice president of the Exchange’s Europe/Southwest Asia Region. “The Europe school meal program team continues to demonstrate their commitment to excellence over and over again.”

Of the total number of parents, nearly 118 dined with their children at Belgium’s Shape Elementary School, followed by 97 at Robinson Elementary School at Stuttgart, Germany, and 60 at Stuttgart’s elementary school—the top three for turnout.

“This event provided a great opportunity for families to enjoy a full school lunch,” said Susanne LaFlamme, the Exchange’s school meal program specialist in Europe. “We love showing off the nutritious foods that we serve children daily so that their parents can focus on the military mission without having to worry.”

School lunches by the numbers

2.5 million

The number of school lunches the Exchange served in 2018 overseas.

School Lunch FunFact

1955

The year the Exchange served its first school lunch, at a military installation in the United Kingdom. In 1980, the Exchange was designated the sole school feeding authority for DoD schools overseas.