Kimberly Della Donna in conversation with Denielle Saitta
Kimberly Della Donna is the Farm to School Director at Georgia Organics. Denielle Saitta is the Project Manager of Marketing & Communications for Fulton County School Nutrition Program.
Denielle Saitta, the Fulton County School Nutrition Program Project Manager of Marketing and Communications, is affectionately known by her team as “the School Nutrition Cheerleader.” She is part of an entire team that loves to celebrate. In addition to providing nutritious breakfast and lunch daily to over 96,000 students, Café Managers implement seven marketing promotions each school year that incorporate nutrition education, special holidays, and school-sponsored events.
Each month Fulton cafes recognize a different cultural cuisine to explore nutrition, culture, and culinary traditions while marketing the offerings of their menus. This initiative celebrates the many cultural backgrounds that make up Fulton County Schools’ students, teachers, and staff. This month they are celebrating Black History Month, honoring black culture and remembering those who have made great strides throughout history.
Denielle sees the month-long celebration as an educational opportunity to fill in the gaps not found in textbooks or classrooms. “By exploring different heritages and cuisines, we honor and celebrate different cultures. From something as simple as an ice cream scoop or as commonplace as refrigerated trucking, African Americans have always been vital creators and inventors and have helped shape food industries.”
A Fulton County School Nutrition education display, courtesy of Denielle Saitta. All images are from pre-pandemic celebrations.
Fulton County School Nutrition has celebrated Black History Month since Denielle started in 2016. “Every year, we provide Café Managers promotional resources and nutrition education material. Some café Managers have conducted nutrition education lessons on influential African Americans in food and George Washington Carver. We offer a limited-time Southern Fare menu to students and the school community. The menu may include southern breaded chicken, locally grown collard greens, black-eyed peas, peach or apple crisp, and fresh fruit. The celebration provides students the opportunity to examine the connection between food and nutrition with African American culture and history.”
Denielle notes that the Black History Month celebration is just one of many Fulton County Schools promotions that bring learning beyond the classroom and into the cafeteria. “Our cafes have always been an extension of the classroom! The Fulton School Nutrition Program helps set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-sponsored activities. All 95 Café Managers plan and implement two classroom-based nutrition education related promotions each school year. Café Managers visit student classrooms for the lesson or will have the students come to their ‘classrooms’ – the kitchen! Inviting students into the kitchen gives Café Managers a chance to show students all tools and equipment they use when preparing their school food.”
Although 2021 celebrations and promotions are happening virtually and school meals are picked up curbside and enjoyed while social distancing, the Fulton County School Nutrition Program remains dedicated to serving all students nutritious, safe, and customer acceptable meals in support of academic achievement. “For many families, schools are the one place their children can get a nutritious meal,” said Alyssia Wright, Executive Director of the Fulton County School Nutrition Program. “While the location and meal service method might be different, our students and families can count on us for nutritious and safe school meals.” This month, students can enjoy the cultural exploration and culinary celebration of Black History Month along with a delicious meal!
Danielle Saitta is the Project Manager of Marketing & Communications for Fulton County Schools Nutrition Program. To learn more about the Fulton County School Nutrition Program, please visit, https://nutrition.fultonschools.org/ and follow us on Instagram @FCSNutrition, Twitter @FCSNutrition, and at https://www.facebook.com/FCSNutrition
Kimberly Della Donna is the Farm to School Director at Georgia Organics. To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit www.georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Instagram @GeorgiaOrganics, Twitter @GeorgiaOrganics, and at www.Facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.