Some APS students are taste testing foods

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A new way for Albuquerque Public School students to have input on what appears on their lunch menu is happening through an innovative program.  Some of the students at eight schools throughout the district will be voting on the new healthy items in taste tests in the classroom.

The students are called "P.I.'s" which stands for plate investigators. News 13 caught up with one of the kindergarten classes at Georgia O'Keefe Elementary School in early December. By the look on some of their little faces, the students let administrators know instantly what pleased their pallets and what didn't.

On course that morning, students got to try quinoa salad, cous-cous and fruit then black barley and rice. Administrators say this is a good way to introduce healthy items from each of the food groups to the menu for schools throughout the district.

"These are foods that they may not normally try at home," says Janet Novak, APS Special Needs Dietician. "So hopefully they're going to take the information home with them to their parents and their parents will be willing to implement some of these foods at home too."

School officials say the next round of items will be voted on when students return for their second semester in January. The program has been so successful, APS anticipates getting more schools involved next year.