Healthy Market meals at Saratoga school

Healthy Living Market and Cafe is helping to cook up some new things at Saratoga Independent School in Saratoga Springs.

The natural foods company is revamping the school’s lunch menu with healthier choices and more nutritious snacks from off the shelves of its store in Wilton. Healthy Living chef Matt Buley visited the school’s kitchen on Monday and Tuesday to launch the program with staff.

The school buys the food and the market provides everything on the menu, except for milk. The program features veggie burgers, sweet potato and black bean burritos and fresh fruit and veggies with every meal, and organic snacks like Kind Bars, Wallaby Organic Yogurt, fair trade organic bananas and apples with cinnamon. The lunches cost $4 each.

“Healthy food choices are an extension of our school’s motto: To take care of ourselves, each other, our school and our community,” said Felice Karlitzties, school director. “Adopting a new approach to planning, sourcing, and preparing our school lunches will enable students the opportunity to make healthy choices while at school.”

Eli Lesser-Goldsmith, owner of Healthy Living, said school lunch was in tailspin all over the country.

“We are partnering up with Saratoga Independent School to turn this negative trend around,” he said. “Kids eating right during the day is key to a highly functional mind and body, and this program aims to do just that.”