Better than Yelp: Chicago Public Schools students review potential lunch food

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Some young Chicago Public Schools (CPS) kids got to put their food-critiquing skills to the test Wednesday, as they tried out some potential fall cafeteria items.

CPS students could hardly contain their excitement to taste test some potential new menu items.

“I'm actually excited, and I'm happy, plus I'm grateful because we've never done this in the school year or when we [were] going to summer camp in summer school,” said 9-year-old Zamaria.

Zamaria was one of roughly 60 CPS students who tested items like jollof — a West African style of rice — green bean casserole, and Zamaria's favorite: a fruit parfait.

“I can't get enough of this one,” Zamaria said.

Zamaria, as well as fellow 9-year-olds Arielle and A’nylah, also shared their least favorite. In unison, they told WBBM: “The green beans.”

One added: “Green beans are not my thing.”

The tasting was one of several that CPS holds throughout the year. CPS Nutrition Specialist Ariana Luster said that, after the tasting, students fill out a survey. CPS chefs will either make adjustments to items or scrap them altogether.

“School food gets a bad rep,” Luster said. “We want to change that by being as responsive as we can be and that's why we do things like tastings and we do surveys so that we stay in touch with what they want.”

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