Coventry and Andover School Nutrition Services Earn Healthy Meals Incentive Award for Innovation in Nutrition Education
Coventry and Andover School Nutrition Services is proud to announce it has been selected for a Healthy Meals Incentive Award for “Innovation in Nutrition Education” in recognition of its nutrition and farm-to-school initiatives during the 2024-2025 school year. This national award highlights school food programs that enhance the nutritional quality of meals while engaging students and families in meaningful nutrition education, planning, and food preparation experiences.
The Coventry and Andover teams received this honor for their commitment to improving student wellness through hands-on, engaging nutrition programming. Monthly cafeteria taste tests allowed students to sample local foods and provide feedback on potential new menu items, helping guide future meal offerings and encouraging students to explore new flavors and healthy choices.
The award also recognizes the district’s innovative farm-to-school efforts, including the Capt. Nathan Hale (CNH) School after-school Cooking Club, where students build real-world culinary skills using local, seasonal ingredients. In addition, the School Nutrition team promoted student wellness at school and community events, including district-wide Open Houses, where families were invited to enjoy local food tastings and learn more about nutritious school meals.
This collaborative effort was led by Food Services Director Beth Pratt, Coventry/Andover Farm to School Coordinator Abby DuBois, and dedicated food service staff across Coventry Public Schools and Andover Elementary School.
This recognition complements the districts’ recent $75,000 CT Grown for CT Kids Grant, which will continue to support robust farm-to-school programming through Fall 2026. Together, these initiatives further the districts’ commitment to ensuring all students have access to healthy, appealing meals and meaningful food education.
This information was provided by Coventry/Andover School Food Services. For further information, please contact Beth Pratt (bpratt@coventryct.org) or Abby DuBois at
adubios@coventryct.org.