During the May 2024 DeSoto ISD School Board meeting, the administration received the board’s approval to accept the bid for Whitsons Culinary Group to become the new DeSoto ISD Child Nutrition food service provider beginning in the 24-25 school year.
Whitsons is a national brand that has a service mission to enhance life one meal at a time by providing well-balanced, appealing, healthy meals and believes that every meal should be a celebration of real ingredients and authentic flavors that respect the essence of fresh, wholesome food packed with nutrition and natural ingredients.
“Our mission is more than just words; it means more than just serving food. It is this invisible spirit of service to others and about fostering community and hospitality in everything we do. We’re dedicated to helping people live healthier lives through nourishing food, authentic relationships, and leaving this world a better place than we found it,” said David Southall, Whitsons DeSoto ISD General Manager.
“We are excited about our partnership with DeSoto ISD, and we will provide a great school nutrition program while becoming a part of the community,” he continued.
At DeSoto ISD, Whitsons will offer a comprehensive school dining program that meets the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program requirements and engage students in developing a positive attitude toward healthy eating.
To support this effort, Whitsons offers the following:
Age-appropriate lunch menus with increasingly more options at the older grade levels as students mature and learn how to make healthier choices.
Help educate and guide younger students to make balanced meal choices by offering familiar “kid-friendly” foods made with healthier ingredients.
A food-court-style environment with a wide variety of wholesome menu choices for secondary students.
All district students will still receive free breakfast and lunch meals at all campuses, but they will pay a small cost for snacks and a la carte items.
Parents can explore the interactive menus online at www.fdmealplanner.com or download the FD Meal Planner app and visit the DeSoto ISD Child Nutrition webpage to locate menus, access lunch money payment systems, and learn more about the food service provider and its educational program.
Learn more about the great experiences occurring in DeSoto ISD by visiting www.DeSotoISD/newsroom.