EDUCATION

PataSchool program reimagines school lunch with made-from-scratch, nutrient-dense meals

Jenna Watson
Katrina McCarroll, from right, eats lunch with fifth-grade students K'Mariae Gilmore, Mikayla Wise and Alizon Zaca Rosales on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, where the PataSchool meal program has been implemented. "I think the ability to socialize around food is really critical," said Matthew Feltrop, executive director of PataSchool. "By transforming what the students are eating, you can really transform how they're relating to each other around food."
Katrina McCarroll, from right, eats lunch with fifth-grade students K'Mariae Gilmore, Mikayla Wise and Alizon Zaca Rosales on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, where the PataSchool meal program has been implemented. "I think the ability to socialize around food is really critical," said Matthew Feltrop, executive director of PataSchool. "By transforming what the students are eating, you can really transform how they're relating to each other around food."
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
A staff member eats chicken noodle soup, a salad, fruits and vegetables at lunchtime Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool Program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
A staff member eats chicken noodle soup, a salad, fruits and vegetables at lunchtime Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool Program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Lunchtime is held Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Circle City Prep in Indianapolis. Circle City Prep was the first of two schools to adopt Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, which trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Lunchtime is held Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Circle City Prep in Indianapolis. Circle City Prep was the first of two schools to adopt Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, which trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
A photo shows a before and after of Circle City Prep's upgraded kitchen, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, which was renovated with the help of Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program.
A photo shows a before and after of Circle City Prep's upgraded kitchen, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, which was renovated with the help of Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Students go through the lunch line Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Students go through the lunch line Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Pre-portioned vegetables are served Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool Program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Pre-portioned vegetables are served Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool Program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
A student returns a lunch tray Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Circle City Prep in Indianapolis.
A student returns a lunch tray Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Circle City Prep in Indianapolis.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Chef Dawn Massing, left, scoops chicken noodle soup from a tilting skillet as baker Tess Ireland prepares parfaits Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Massing and Ireland work for Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, where they help train school cafeteria staff to prepare fresh foods from scratch using upgraded kitchen equipment.
Chef Dawn Massing, left, scoops chicken noodle soup from a tilting skillet as baker Tess Ireland prepares parfaits Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Massing and Ireland work for Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, where they help train school cafeteria staff to prepare fresh foods from scratch using upgraded kitchen equipment.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
An expanded and upgraded dry food storage area is seen Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
An expanded and upgraded dry food storage area is seen Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Fifth-grade students Ronze Jones, left, and Tyrese Ellison, center, laugh while eating lunch together Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, where the PataSchool meal program has been implemented. "The biggest change that I see is kids' relationships with food," said Matthew Feltrop, executive director of PataSchool. "They kind of begin to understand that there is a lot of love and care that goes into making food."
Fifth-grade students Ronze Jones, left, and Tyrese Ellison, center, laugh while eating lunch together Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, where the PataSchool meal program has been implemented. "The biggest change that I see is kids' relationships with food," said Matthew Feltrop, executive director of PataSchool. "They kind of begin to understand that there is a lot of love and care that goes into making food."
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Sande Wheeler sets out pre-portioned vegetables Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, where the PataSchool meal program has been implemented. Wheeler has worked in schools for 15 years. "It was a pretty big change, but a change for the better, so everyone kind of embraced it because we knew the kids were going to be more responsive," Wheeler said. "Now they take more food, everything is fresh. I'm surprised by how many younger kids take salad."
Sande Wheeler sets out pre-portioned vegetables Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, where the PataSchool meal program has been implemented. Wheeler has worked in schools for 15 years. "It was a pretty big change, but a change for the better, so everyone kind of embraced it because we knew the kids were going to be more responsive," Wheeler said. "Now they take more food, everything is fresh. I'm surprised by how many younger kids take salad."
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Baker Tess Ireland prepares yogurt parfaits Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Baker Tess Ireland prepares yogurt parfaits Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
The renovated cafeteria line at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School is pictured on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, in Indianapolis. The school is participating in Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program.
The renovated cafeteria line at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School is pictured on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, in Indianapolis. The school is participating in Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Students go through the lunch line Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool Program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Students go through the lunch line Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool Program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Side salads are served Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool Program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Side salads are served Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Patachou Foundation's PataSchool Program, currently implemented at two schools, trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Students eat lunch Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Circle City Prep in Indianapolis.
Students eat lunch Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Circle City Prep in Indianapolis.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Chef Dawn Massing scoops chicken noodle soup from a tilting skillet Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Massing works for Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, where she helps train cafeteria staff to prepare fresh foods from scratch using upgraded kitchen equipment, including the pictured kettle and skillet.
Chef Dawn Massing scoops chicken noodle soup from a tilting skillet Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis. Massing works for Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, where she helps train cafeteria staff to prepare fresh foods from scratch using upgraded kitchen equipment, including the pictured kettle and skillet.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Sixth-grade student Aaron Flores Botello eats an orange during lunch Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, where the PataSchool meal program has been implemented. "The biggest change that I see is kids' relationships with food," said Matthew Feltrop, executive director of PataSchool. "They kind of begin to understand that there is a lot of love and care that goes into making food."
Sixth-grade student Aaron Flores Botello eats an orange during lunch Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, where the PataSchool meal program has been implemented. "The biggest change that I see is kids' relationships with food," said Matthew Feltrop, executive director of PataSchool. "They kind of begin to understand that there is a lot of love and care that goes into making food."
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
Fresh vegetables are served at lunchtime Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Circle City Prep in Indianapolis. Circle City Prep was the first of two schools to adopt Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, which trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Fresh vegetables are served at lunchtime Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at Circle City Prep in Indianapolis. Circle City Prep was the first of two schools to adopt Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program, which trains cafeteria staff to prepare foods from scratch and helps upgrade kitchen equipment, in order to provide free nutrient-dense meals to all students.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar
"The biggest change that I see is kids' relationships with food," said Matthew Feltrop, executive director of Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program. "They kind of begin to understand that there is a lot of love and care that goes into making food." Feltrop is pictured during an interview with IndyStar on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, one of two schools where the program has been implemented.
"The biggest change that I see is kids' relationships with food," said Matthew Feltrop, executive director of Patachou Foundation's PataSchool program. "They kind of begin to understand that there is a lot of love and care that goes into making food." Feltrop is pictured during an interview with IndyStar on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in Indianapolis, one of two schools where the program has been implemented.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar