Stepping down is bittersweet for Julie Tunseth. She's retiring after 30 years with Grand Forks Public Schools, 24 of them as director of child nutrition.
"We used to call it the hot lunch program," she said the other day. "But times have changed. Now there are school breakfasts and an emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables. There's a summer child feeding program and meals for Head Start.''
The central kitchen at Valley Middle School is where it all begins. And in recent years, there has been a push for more homemade fare.
Tunseth says the schools use whole wheat flour and avoid trans fats. They use low-sodium recipes.
She favors whole grains for biscuits and pancakes.
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There still is Hidden Valley dressing to go with vegetables, but the schools portion it out. There's a philosophy, Tunseth said, that the schools should be a learning lab.
"We have made great strides in serving fruits and vegetables with the main entree."
For her, there is no better job than feeding kids. She has enjoyed her part in promoting life-long wellness. She has worked with legislation for better nutrition in schools.
Tunseth and her husband Darryl have three-grown children.
Decorating graves
Memorial Day weekend arrives with people quietly decorating graves and heading out for the lakes. ... While others are planning to watch the cars go zoom-zoom-zoom around River City Speedway tonight. ... Memorial Day services are planned at 9:30 a.m. Monday in North Memorial Park Cemetery and 11 a.m. at South Memorial Park.
Ask Marilyn
Q. Is there a cat in the Grand Forks Public Library?
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A. Yes, there is a cat named Bubbles that seems to avoid patrons. She's gray. She comes out to pick out a book every now and then. Mostly she just retreats to a corner in the office.
Q. Has anyone asked Bubbles where she thinks the new library should be?
A. No, but I think she should be consulted.
Brad and Yvonne
Cheerful persons of the week: Brad Berry and Yvonne Cronquist.
