Healthy Foods by Choice will not be returning next year as Moorestown Friends’ food service provider in the Dining Hall Commons, it was announced via email to students and faculty Friday. The school has selected SAGE dining services to be Healthy Foods’ replacement.
“For over 25 years, Choice Foods has served as the school’s Dining Service partner. On behalf of the entire school community, I’d like to thank Choice Foods for their partnership,” wrote Director of Finance and Operations Lisa Carbone Warren.
Carbone Warren wrote an email to the community in early February that MFS was reviewing new Dining Hall vendors as part of a standard procedure where the school “review[s] contractual arrangements of major vendors of the school periodically,” Carbone Warren said in an interview in February.
Carbone Warren added that the school requested proposals from 6 companies, including Choice Foods. Some of the factors that Carbone Warren said the school was looking at was companies experienced in the food service business, companies experienced with retail programs and three divisional schools, food quality, menu variety, healthy lunch options, nutrition and allergen training, application of technology online and in the lunchroom, food costs, management fees, catering services, local farm programs, and fair wages for employees, among others.
“We will enjoy improved variety and high quality of food, along with enhanced presentation and service,” wrote Carbone Warren of SAGE Dining Services. She noted their fresh-made menu items, salad and deli bar, food truck-style fare, expanded vegetarian options, and display among others.
SAGE’s allergy accommodations, education towards healthy food options, color-coded nutrition information, and historical culinary topics related to food each month were all mentioned in Carbone Warren’s message.
Healthy Foods by Choice has been embattled in recent months, with many students and teachers unsatisfied with the quality of the food and the price of the dishes. Additionally, a new crew of Dining Hall staff members started at the beginning of the school year, replacing the long-time staffers. During the transition, Food Service Manager Kimberly Watson remained.
Many students had said they were open to changes as long as the food quality improved and the prices were more reasonable.
“I had noticed a decrease in the food quality,” said Junior Lauren Cates, “I hope that the new company [selected by the school] has better taste.”
Defining The Standard in School Dining Services from SAGE Dining Services® on Vimeo.
“The meals in the video look really good, but I’m wondering what it will cost,” said Junior Courtney Tarter. Pricing and meal plans will be announced later this spring, according to the email.
Choice Foods Owner Karen Gosik said in an email statement:
Healthy Foods by Choice has been a part of the cloth of the Moorestown Friends School community for the last 28 years. Our journey with the students, faculty and staff has been rewarding and successful. Healthy Foods by Choice has had the privilege of serving, educating and experiencing the positive growth of many of the students beginning with Preschool through 12th Grade. I have had the privilege of seeing students who we served in the Lower School grow educationally, personally and spiritually throughout their journey in the MFS system to become teachers and mentors to the current students at MFS. What an amazing tribute to MFS to have had such influence on their students that they (teachers and mentors) chose to come back into the MFS community as adults to continue to share the superior education they themselves received!
We, Healthy Foods by Choices, are sincerely grateful for the last 28 years we have had with Moorestown Friends School. We will miss everyone and look forward to seeing the continued success of the Moorestown Friends School’s students.
Thank you MFS from the bottom of our hearts!
