Louisville City Schools Becomes the First Eat Real Certified District in Ohio!
Pictured: Louisville City School elementary students enjoying lunch.
Louisville City Schools is Eat Real Certified at the Green Tier — making them the first district in Ohio to earn Eat Real certification! Located in Louisville, Ohio, about an hour and a half south of Cleveland, the district serves approximately 2,754 students and is bringing fresh, nourishing, real food to every tray.
This certification celebrates the meaningful strides the team has made for students, excelling in areas like menu variety, fresh choices, and healthy fats that support student health and wellbeing.
“The reason I chose to join the Eat Real certification program was to identify where we can make meaningful changes for the better. We can only improve by seeking help from others, learning new approaches, and being willing to try something different.”
— Amanda Matchett, Nutrition Services Director
22 Unique Entrees Each Week
Students at Louisville City Schools are offered an average of 22 unique lunch entree options each week — balancing familiar favorites with new flavors that keep the lunch line interesting. With nearly 473,190 breakfasts and lunches served in a year, the team’s commitment to variety means students have nutritious and delicious choices every single day.
4 Healthy Fat Options Daily
Every school day, students can choose from four healthy fat options — including hard boiled eggs in the district’s many salad offerings — to help them stay full, focused, and energized throughout the day. These intentional additions reflect the team’s broader philosophy: that small, thoughtful choices in the kitchen add up to real impact for students in the classroom.
16 Fresh Produce Options Each Week
Each week, students are offered an average of six fresh fruit and ten fresh vegetable options — a lineup that supports better mood, focus, and academic performance. Access to fresh produce isn’t a bonus here, it’s a cornerstone of how the Louisville City Schools nutrition team approaches every menu.
Pictured: Crispy Chicken Salad featuring more than five fresh vegetables creating a colorful and nutrient-rich meal.
Going Above and Beyond
Congratulations to Nutrition Services Director Amanda Matchett and her dedicated team for their hard work, their openness to growth, and the meaningful difference they are making for every student in Louisville City Schools. Their willingness to seek out new approaches and raise the bar for what school food can be is exactly the kind of leadership that moves the needle — not just for their district, but for school food across Ohio and beyond. This work shows what is possible when a team decides that good enough isn’t enough.
