Lunching with ladies

Women ensure Battle Lake is well fed

By Susan Larson | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, March 7, 2008

There is no pop or candy to be found in Battle Lake Public School and Nancy Johnson is to thank — or blame — depending on whether your point of view is that of student or parent.

When she came to the school as head cook/food service director about five years ago, one of the first things she did was get rid of the junk food in the ala carte line.

“I thought the kids were going to kill me,” she said, laughing at the memory.

It didn’t take them long to get over it, though. Good food, Johnson has taught them, doesn’t have to be tasteless and boring.

“I love kids and I love nutrition,” Johnson said. “In today’s world, we’re too quick to pull out something fast and we have no idea what we’re putting in our bodies.”

When students and staff sit down to eat each day, they’re getting something homemade.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s better for you,” she said. “We can’t always do it. Some things, like the curly fries, are ready-made. But when we can, it’s nice.”

Working with Johnson is a staff of four. Between staff and students in grades kindergarten through 12, they serve 475 lunches and 200 breakfasts a day.

Johnson arrives at 6 a.m., fires up the ovens, takes the food out of the freezer and butters toast for breakfast. Assistant cook Karen Combs comes in around 7 a.m. to help, followed later by the rest of the crew. The ladies regularly switch duties so no one gets bored.

“It’s nice to rotate so you’re not stuck at one job,” said Tonia Grewe, part of the kitchen crew.

After breakfast is served and students are off to class, it’s time to get lunch finished.

The biggest challenge of the job, Grewe said, “is trying to get it all done on time, but we manage to do that.”

The first group — fifth and sixth graders — come through around 10:55 a.m. The masses keep coming in a steady stream until everyone has been fed — usually by 12:20 p.m. Finally — by 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. — the kitchen crew gets to eat. Their break is brief, then it’s back to work, cleaning and preparing for tomorrow.

By 2 p.m., the kitchen crew is gone, save for Johnson. She sticks around to run the student store, open from 3:10-3:45 p.m. The store offers sandwiches, Gatorade, cereal bars, muffins, string cheese and other nutritious goodies for the kids. Because so many students are so busy, Johnson said, they don’t have time to get home to get something nutritious to eat. Without the store, they might fall prey to whatever the nearest vending machine could provide.

The students, believe it or not, appreciate the healthy choices offered them.

“I like the variety we have,” junior Kari Saurer said. “I like the bagels. The spaghetti is pretty good.”

“I like that it’s right here and I don’t have to go anywhere,” said fellow junior Emily Jorud. “And it’s much healthier.”

Service with a smile isn’t so bad, either.

“They’re just so friendly,” Jorud said. “They’re on time and we never have to wait.”

The appreciation is mutual. Before coming to Battle Lake, Johnson was in the food service business for the Robbinsdale School District for 14 years. Although she enjoyed it, she said, nothing really compares to small-town life.

“It’s so different here from the big city,” Johnson said. “The kids here are so thankful for what you do. They really are good kids.”