Fulton County Students Help Decide School Lunch Menu

Over 160 students judge and select new menu options for the upcoming school year

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Fulton County Schools held a 'Student Choice Food Challenge' where over 160 students from across the district gathered to taste and vote on new menu items for their school cafeterias. The students sampled options like Cuban sandwiches, Caesar salad wraps, Moroccan chicken, and cheesy enchilada bakes, providing direct feedback to the district's nutrition director on what they want to see served in the lunchrooms.

Why it matters

Giving students a direct say in the school lunch menu helps ensure the food served aligns with their tastes and preferences, making them more likely to eat the healthy and nutritious options. This collaborative approach also exposes students to a wider variety of cultural and flavorful foods they may not have tried otherwise.

The details

The Student Choice Food Challenge allowed Fulton County students to judge and select new menu items for the upcoming school year. Students sampled a variety of options, including Cuban sandwiches, Caesar salad wraps, Moroccan chicken, and cheesy enchilada bakes. Alyssia Wright, the director of school nutrition for Fulton County Schools, said this direct student feedback is crucial to balancing healthy and tasty menu items. The students expressed pride in being involved and knowing the foods they selected will end up in their school cafeterias.

  • The Student Choice Food Challenge took place in February 2026.

The players

Kaptain Howard

A fourth-grade student who participated in the food challenge and said 'It's been great. And I ate a lot of good food.'

Honor Johnson

A student who said he's proud to have a say in what goes on the school menu, stating 'I can tell my friends what is on the school's list next year.'

Alyssia Wright

The director of school nutrition for Fulton County Schools, who said there's a balancing act between having healthy food and making sure it tastes good, and that direct student feedback is crucial.

Jordyn Dawson

A fourth-grade student who said she liked trying new things and was surprised that she enjoyed the food, stating 'It feels great. When we first walked in, I was kind of scared and I thought I wouldn't like the food, but I liked it.'

Elijah Lee

A student who said he feels good about being involved because 'there will be a lot of people standing in the lunch line and there will be a lot less people spending money to get their kids lunches.'

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What they’re saying

“It's been great. And I ate a lot of good food.”

— Kaptain Howard, Fourth-grade student (Atlanta News First)

“I can tell my friends what is on the school's list next year.”

— Honor Johnson, Student (Atlanta News First)

“We can put food items on the menu that we think is great for them, but if we don't have that direct feedback from them, we're missing the mark.”

— Alyssia Wright, Director of school nutrition, Fulton County Schools (Atlanta News First)

“It feels great. When we first walked in, I was kind of scared and I thought I wouldn't like the food, but I liked it.”

— Jordyn Dawson, Fourth-grade student (Atlanta News First)

“I feel very good because there will be a lot of people standing in the lunch line and there will be a lot less people spending money to get their kids lunches.”

— Elijah Lee, Student (Atlanta News First)

What’s next

The school district plans to incorporate the student-selected menu items into the cafeteria offerings for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.

The takeaway

Fulton County Schools' collaborative approach to developing the school lunch menu, by directly involving students in the selection process, helps ensure the food served aligns with student tastes and preferences, promoting healthier eating habits and exposing students to a wider variety of flavorful and culturally diverse menu options.