Cafeteria Chronicles: HMI Regional Events: Celebrating Progress, Strengthening Partnerships, and Inspiring Change
As we wrap up the Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Initiative, we celebrate not only the milestones achieved, but the people, partnerships, and passion that made this work possible. Over the past year, Action for Healthy Kids has had the opportunity to host regional events in school districts across the country, witnessing firsthand the dedication of school nutrition teams and the real progress they’ve made transforming their meal programs.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at HMI regional events:
Impact
Across the events, one message was clear: HMI has made a lasting impact on students nationwide. With access to support, funding, and training, schools were able to make improvements that once seemed impossible. From new kitchen equipment and scratch-made meals to smarter procurement practices, districts saw their goals become reality. Barbara Burns, Child Nutrition Services Director at Carrollton Exempted Village School District in Carrollton, OH called the initiative “a game changer,” providing the tools to improve food quality, develop staff expertise, and maintain lasting progress.
“My Team is still buzzing over the success of the day…I will never forget this moment and I hope that it lived up to all of the hype and spotlighting that we shared about it.”
Changemakers
Every regional event provided Action for Healthy Kids the opportunity to connect with passionate nutrition professionals who make this work possible. Behind each new entrée, salad bar, and kitchen upgrade, there is a dedicated team focused on improving student health and well-being. Their creativity, perseverance, and unwavering resilience have been the driving force behind the success of the HMI initiative.
“Our jobs are stressful at times but the overall aspect of it all is the children and is quite rewarding. We all love our job, love the kids, love the organizations like yours to where we can all come together and try to make our children healthier and have some knowledge they can take with them as they get older.”
What’s Next
As we close this chapter, schools are already looking ahead and asking, “What’s Next?” Their feedback is clear: programs like the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative are vital for keeping meals healthy and innovative. Districts are asking for continued support, training, and funding to sustain this progress.
While HMI may be wrapping up, the momentum it sparked is only beginning. The successes we celebrate today show a nationwide dedication to student health and a desire for more initiatives like HMI in the future.
Thank you to all of the school districts who hosted Action for Healthy Kids at Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Regional Events and for leading the way in school nutrition!
Belton School District 124 (Belton, MO)
Carrollton Exempted Village School District (Carrollton, OH)
Brooks County School District (Quitman, GA)
Littleton Public School District (Littleton, MA)
Ashwaubenon School District (Green Bay, WI)
Quitman Independent School District (Quitman, TX)
Palo Alto Unified School District (Palo Alto, CA)
Hunterdon Central Regional High School District (Hunterdon, NJ)
Stay tuned for more Cafeteria Chronicles stories from school districts nationwide. Check out our Cafeteria Chronicles Blog for more inspiring school nutrition transformations
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