With the new Commons come new lunch options! MVS is partnering with Filk Independent School Dining (FISD) to bring students new and improved food. At the very least, it’s better than what Grinders had to offer. Plus, according to MVS’s website, will have many benefits for the student, including no more lunch packing, more menu options, and overall just a more nutritious plate for the average student. But before we get too excited, let’s look at what FISD is doing. Right now, I’ll give an analysis on what this program really is, along with my two cents on the matter.
So who even is FISD? According to their website, they are “a dedicated team of compassionate and talented individuals” that deliver “nourishing meals that focus on sustainability, nutrition education, and community impact for the next generation.” And while that looks great, what will actually be served? Below is a picture of what a potential menu could look like:
In addition to this, there are daily offerings such as desserts, beverages, and deli and salad bars. What sets FISD apart is their emphasis on “swavory,” which is a combination of sweet and savory. The goal is to try to encourage students to try new things by describing new foods with tastes they are familiar with. It’s a very innovative way of going about food, and I’m excited to see what they have to offer.
Another question is why did MVS choose FISD to be our caterer? MVS is trying to change their current lunch philosophy and move to what they call a “community dining model.” However, the description of this model does not appear to change anything new besides “eating as a community.” MVS states that since the school makes no profit from the lunches, they can focus on nutrition and meeting dietary needs. FISD helps achieve this goal by providing both a dedicated chef and Registered Dietitian that will be on-site at MVS everyday. Our school nurse, Lisa Horn, has been greatly involved in making this happen, so students with food allergies, accommodations, and other needs will be met above and beyond. The dietitian will work with families, the chef, and the nurse to create customized plans. Lastly, FISD claims to prepare all their food separately to reduce the risk of trace food allergens.
The new Reddy Student Union’s first floor, which is where the new cafeteria will be, will serve all grades from Early Childhood to Upper School. However, the second floor’s construction will not be finished until the 2026-2027 school year. This space will be dedicated for Upper School students, as we do not have a place that we don’t have to share with other divisions or grades. MVS believes “At MVS, food and community go hand-in-hand,” and the entire new Reddy Student Union will bring their vision to life.
Finally, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the money. As of last week, the school has spent 5.9 MILLION dollars. That’s roughly 90% of the budget for this project. But that’s not something us students are going to be paying for. Instead, we (i.e. our parents) get the luxury of being required to pay $1250 each year. If you plan on buying lunch, that’s great for you! But if you’re willing to die on the hill of packing a lunch, your [parent’s] bank account is in for a ride. I think it’s a shame the pricing is done this way, but I can understand why MVS made this choice. It’s probably expensive to contract FISD to do this kind of work, along with pricey construction. But the asking price along with the already high $20-30,000-ish yearly tuition, combined with Immersion, might tip some people over the edge. In the coming years this might have a minimal impact on attendance at MVS.
Overall this new cafeteria plan for MVS, despite its high cost to both MVS and families, will be a major upgrade and put our school’s lunch facilities among the top Ohio schools. With chefs designing custom meal plans, it will definitely be different from Grinders. Owen met the head chef from FISD doing his Immersion (shoutout Philosophical Foodies) and he was greatly impressed. If you walk away with anything after reading this, it’s that MVS does care about its students nutritional needs, and that I can appreciate.
